Toy Stories: Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head — Beauty and Mystery vs. Boring and Monotonous - Wednesday
TODAY’S VERSE
Matthew 11:28
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (NIV)
“I owe you an apology,” she said as we sat down in the conference room. Watching her stiletto tap aggressively under the table, I could tell she was nervous.
I’d known Andi (we’ll call her “Andi”) since I’d started working for the bank. She was extremely successful, attractive and intelligent, making her a highly-respected woman in her field. Not to mention, she had a great personality and a deep love for people.
However, while we were at a work event together the previous evening, she had a few drinks and over-shared some details about her marital troubles with me. As a single man who had made plenty of his own mistakes with inappropriate work relationships, I did my best to change the subject, politely excusing myself from the conversation and heading home, knowing she would deeply regret the whole thing the next morning. She clearly did.
“I feel like an idiot, Connor..” she explained. “I should’ve never shared any of that with you. Marriage has just been exhausting lately and you’re so easy to talk to. I am so embarrassed.”
“You’re fine!” I said, trying my best to not make things awkward. Then I felt the Holy Spirit nudge me to lean in.
“I’ve never been married, so please take this for what it’s worth—but there is someone I think you should talk to…”
She smiled. “My husband is never going to see a therapist if that’s what you mean!” We both laughed.
“Not exactly…” I responded warmly, “Andi, have you talked to Jesus about any of this yet?”
She paused and looked at the floor. I knew Andi was a believer, but had the kind of faith popular in the Nashville music/business scene; one that parties on Saturdays and repents on Sunday morning. A surface-level faith that assumes Jesus can save our sins, but somehow isn’t capable of saving our marriages as well.
Make no mistake, Andi should’ve gone to a man about her marital problems—she just went to the wrong man.
I say this because when marriage gets exhausting (as it sometimes does), we often have a tendency to bring that exhaustion to the wrong person: the girl at the gym, the guy at the office who makes us laugh or even a group of friends who just aren’t helpful. But a man named Jesus reminded us that when we grow weary, he’s the only one who will give us the rest we need to actually keep going.
Andi and her husband are still married today because of the rest Jesus gave them. He can do that for your marriage, too. All we have to do is come to him.
APPLICATION
What is one burden you need rest for today? Take a moment to process that burden with Jesus.
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for the rest you provide when we are weary.
