God.
We need rest.
Not sleep, not distraction, not medication, not relief.
We need rest.
We hear you say, Jesus, “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
We long for rest, but we confess we’re not sure we can come with our burdens.
We confess.
We confess that we are afraid that you will scold us rather than giving us rest.
We confess that we are likely to scold others for not giving us rest.
We confess that we are afraid that you will remind us that we took on the burdens.
We confess that we stay away from you until we fix things.
We confess that it’s not working.
And so together we hold our weariness out to you.
We acknowledge that we are weary and burdened in body and mind and soul and heart.
We acknowledge that our weariness and burdens make it hard to focus on you.
We acknowledge that you know this and understand this and are compassionate and faithful and forgiving and real.
So we again say,
we need rest.
May we rest in you, today and always.
Amen.
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Amos 7:7-15; Colossians 4:1-4; Luke 10:25-37