Busyness seems to be the hallmark of our society. Everybody is busy. Everybody is quickly moving from one thing to the next, barely having a moment to just pause and take a breath. Our daily schedules are packed full, and if we aren’t constantly doing something, we feel as if we won’t be able to accomplish everything we need or want to do.
But after a while, this constant busyness begins to weigh us down. We become tired, weary, burdened by all the priorities and responsibilities we’ve put upon ourselves. And when we allow this weariness to fester in our lives without seeking any rest or relief, it often morphs into anxiety, depression, or a host of other negative side effects.
As believers, we don’t have to sit in this weariness. We don’t have to stay in the anxiety and depression because we have a Savior who loves us, and cares for us, and who has offered to take our burdens upon Himself. What exactly does this look like? Well, Sarah Hauser elaborates on this process in her new book, All Who Are Weary.
Weariness comes in many shapes, sizes, and forms, and Sarah discusses many of them. For some of us, our weariness may make us feel insecure, insignificant, and worthless, like whatever we do makes no difference in the world. For others, it may look like perfectionism, comparison, and self-sufficiency—trying our darndest to do what is good and right but seeming to still fall short as we gaze upon the accomplishments of our friends or neighbors. And still others may have their weariness come in the forms of worry, condemnation, and despair, being afraid of the future because things don’t look too great right now.
However weariness makes an appearance in our lives, Sarah reminds readers that we are not meant to carry these things. Jesus came to take our burdens and offer us a true rest we can find in no one else. His yoke is easy, and His burden is light, and all we have to do to find relief is come to Him.
“You can throw off the soul-crushing burdens of worthlessness, condemnation, worry, self-sufficiency, insecurity, comparison, perfectionism, insignificance, and despair—because you were never meant to carry those things in the first place. And because of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, you can take up the easy yoke and light burden He offers instead.”[1]
But Jesus doesn’t exactly expect us to live an empty-handed life, feeling nothing and having no purpose. On the contrary, He calls us to carry our crosses, to help shoulder the burdens of our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, and to do so with joy. He does give us a yoke and a burden, but it is one that is easy and light and a far better thing to carry during our days on this earth.
“We need deep rest for our souls. We need to step out of the darkness, to let go of the burdens we were never meant to carry. We need to abandon the lies, fears, and unhealthy expectations. Only then can we carry what we are meant to carry with joy and endurance. Only then can we confidently step forward into what God has called us to do.”[2]
In All Who Are Weary, Sarah shares biblical truth and her own personal experiences to demonstrate how God gives us rest when we release our burdens to Him. Sarah’s writing is clear, vulnerable, and authentic, and I found that I could relate to many of the same feelings that she has struggled with, despite us being in two very different stages of life. Each chapter includes reflection questions for the reader to determine how they may be struggling with that particular form of weariness, and the book also includes an interview with a therapist for those who may need more help and support with their personal struggles.
Overall, this book is a great and encouraging read that will point you back to the beautiful truths of Scripture and the rest we can find in Jesus.
“His yoke will not crush us. It will not leave us lonely or purposeless or fearful, like other kinds of burdens do. Taking up what He offers gives us the truest, deepest rest, because it leads us right into the arms of our Savior.”[3]
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Moody Publishers in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions above are my own.
**As an Amazon Associate, I can earn commissions from qualifying purchases made through the affiliate links on this page at no extra cost to you.
[1] Sarah J. Hauser, All Who Are Weary: Finding True Rest by Letting Go of the Burdens You Were Never Meant to Carry (Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2023), 13.
[2] Ibid., 18.
[3] Ibid., 155.
