Finding Rest in Jesus: From Chaos to Calm 

Busyness has a way of sneaking up on us. One minute, we’re managing just fine — and the next, we’re caught up in a whirlwind of things, all of them important, all of them urgent, and all of them demanding something from us. Over the last couple of months, busyness crept into my life like a thief in the night. And just like a thief, it stole things from me: peaceful sleep, regular meals, time to exercise… but most importantly, it pulled me away from my rhythm with God.

My parents, who are both in their 70s, sold their home of 20 years a couple of months ago. I stepped in to assist them through the process from beginning to end. Once the sale of the home was confirmed and we had a move date – things started getting busy. Helping my parents pack up our family home sent all of us on rollercoaster ride. It was hard emotionally, physically and well, spiritually too. In all the busyness, as much as I tried to keep my routine, it slipped away slowly. With my mind preoccupied with everything that needed to be done, prioritising quiet time became a challenge. Singing along to a worship song in car while I was driving and saying a quick prayer every morning or before I doze off at night was about all I got in. The moment the move was finalised and we just had a few loose ends, I now had to step back into my routine. It wasn’t easy.

Usually, I would do a devotional, pray, journal, and then jump into Bible study. The flow was seamless, and I could just get lost in God’s Word and find new revelation. But this time, I found myself stuck — not knowing where to go next. It wasn’t so easy to find my way around my Bible anymore. It felt like I was out of tune with God. One morning, I just started journaling and told Jesus how I felt a distance between us. And that moment led me to write this post. There had been a verse sitting in the back of my mind for weeks and only then, did I see His invitation:

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30 ESV

Jesus invites us to come to Him and take up His yoke. A yoke is a wooden beam that joins two animals (like oxen) together to carry a heavy load or pull a plow. The yoke shares the weight evenly, making the burden lighter and helping them work together.

But Jesus doesn’t just tell us to take up His yoke; He tells us to learn from Him. He’s inviting us to know His ways, to walk with Him, and to lean on His strength instead of trying to carry everything alone.

When we do this – when we truly walk with Him and learn from Him – He promises we’ll find rest. It’s not about avoiding responsibility or hardships but about sharing the load with Jesus.

Finding Rest in Jesus is essential during overwhelming times.

If you’re going through a busy season right now — where life feels overwhelming and your time with God feels distant or out of reach — I want to encourage you that it’s okay. Sometimes, life demands more from us, and our quiet time doesn’t look the way we want it to.

But even in the busyness and the feeling of distance, Jesus is right there with you. He invites you to come to Him, to take up His yoke, and to learn from Him. It’s in walking with Him through these seasons — not in trying to carry everything alone — that we find true rest for our souls.

Availing myself to my parents as they closed one chapter of their lives and stepped into the next was the greatest gift I could have given them. It brought me so much joy, even in the moments that were stressful and frustrating. As I struggle to get back into my routine — feeling guilty about letting my quiet time slip away — this verse reminded me that Jesus was with me all along. And now, as I struggle to find my rhythm again, He’s still inviting me to come to Him.

Availing myself to my parents as they closed one chapter of their lives and stepped into the next was the greatest gift I could have given them. It brought me so much joy, even in the moments that were stressful and frustrating. As I struggle to get back into my routine — feeling guilty about letting my quiet time slip away — this verse reminded me that Jesus was with me all along. And now, as I struggle to find my rhythm again, He’s still inviting me to come to Him.