Renewal

by Ryan Krzykowski

I used to be a youth.  I used to be a young man.  That’s no longer the case.  Last week I turned 49, which I understand isn’t exactly over the hill.  However, at the risk of sounding morbid, there’s a decent chance I’ve got more years behind me than ahead.  People in my life older than I am continually remind me of my youth, while there are plenty of others who view me as “the old guy”.  Regardless, whether you consider me old, young, both, neither, or don’t really know me at all, know this — I’ve been feeling worn out lately. 

Please don’t feel bad for me — you shouldn’t, and that isn’t the point.  We are extremely grateful and have a whole lot to celebrate.  We know this.  But between health concerns of close friends and family, some minor parenting challenges, combined with the normal workload of people our age (maybe it’s not that normal, I don’t really know), both my wonderful wife and I are feeling it.  We are tired.

Maybe you’re tired too.  And while reading these words won’t magically change anything about our circumstances, I found tremendous hope and reassurance from a familiar passage in Isaiah 40.

Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;

but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.

Jesus shared a similar sentiment in Matthew 11:

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke

upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

According to these passages, just a couple things are required to experience this renewal/soaring/rest.  We need to “hope in the Lord”, and “come to (Jesus)” to learn from Him.  I can do that.  I’ve been doing that, and will keep doing that.

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