God’s Promise to Give You Peace & Rest

Matthew 11:28-30, John 20:19-23, Psalm 55:22, Isaiah 53:1-5, Philippians 4:4-7, Colossians 3:12-17

I used to wear stress like it was stitched into my skin when I owned the boutique. If something could be worried over, I was already three steps ahead of it. But even outside of the business, I’d carry burdens like they were mine to fix, mine to hold, mine to suffer through quietly. Honestly, I thought that was just being strong.

But the truth is—I wasn’t strong. I was just tired.

And somewhere in the middle of all that trying, striving, fixing, and falling apart… God started whispering something I hadn’t learned how to do yet:

“Let Me carry you.”

Not just the burden, but me. My heart. My anxiety. My exhaustion. My fear of not having it all together.

And His Word confirmed it, over and over again.

“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
(Matthew 11:28)

Since losing Walker, I dived head first into God’s Word because I wanted to understand God I wanted to understand why the things that were happening to me were happening. Throughout 2024, I just became increasingly irritable and stressed because not only was I still struggling with the loss of our 3rd pregnancy (the only baby we got to hold), I was also just starting to feel the loneliness of infertility and the stresses that come along with that journey. I kept myself busy because I was scared to rest; I was scared to stop moving. I felt like I couldn’t stop.

I first read Matthew 11:28 during a season where rest felt like a luxury I couldn’t afford. I was showing up for everybody else, while my own heart felt bone-dry. I was watching everyone else’s milestones, and I was still stuck. But Jesus doesn’t say, “Come to Me when you're rested.” He says, “Come when you're weary.” He meets us in the mess.

And in the moments when I felt like I couldn’t take another step, He reminded me through Psalm 55:22:

“Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you.”

He will. Not might. Not maybe if you pray hard enough. He will. I had to learn that peace doesn't come from controlling everything—it comes from releasing it to the One who already holds it. Peace comes from letting go and letting God. And trust me, I know that sounds so much easier said than done - but the peace I have felt since coming to terms with that statement is just heavenly.

Even after Jesus rose from the grave, His very first words to the disciples were “Peace be with you.” (John 20:19-23) Isn’t that something? They were locked in a room, afraid, unsure of what would happen next… and Jesus walks right through the fear and speaks peace.

That hit me. Because that’s what He did for me, too.

In my own locked-up, anxious places, Jesus walked in and brought peace—not because everything was fixed, but because He was there.

And that’s what Philippians 4:6-7 teaches us too:

“Don’t be anxious about anything… but in every situation, by prayer… present your requests to God. And the peace of God… will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

I used to panic first and pray second. But slowly, God flipped that. Now when fear rises, I say, “Stop. Lord, use your hand and guide me. Help me walk this path.” It’s a simple prayer—but it’s enough.

And I think about how that peace was paid for. It didn’t come cheap.

“The punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed.”
(Isaiah 53:5)

Jesus took on the full weight of my sin, my sorrow, and my striving… so I could walk in freedom. So I could breathe. So I could rest.

And now? His peace gets to rule in my heart—not fear.
Not anxiety.
Not performance.
Not control.

Just Him.

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts...”
(Colossians 3:15)

If you’re reading this and you feel like you’re on the edge of burnout… like the world’s too loud and your soul’s too heavy… I want you to know: you’re not alone. And you’re not crazy for feeling worn out.

You're just human. And you’re loved by a God who promises rest.

Today, you don’t have to carry it all. You don’t have to be everything. You just have to come to Jesus.
He’ll meet you right where you are—with arms full of peace and a heart that says, “I’ll carry you.”