Are we supposed to live on the edge of exhaustion? Is it spiritual to be wiped out? Is the best answer for, “How are you?” “Busy, busy, busy!” Talk to the average person and it seems that living on the ragged edge is normal. But is that really abundant living? Is that what life is about and how to live? Did Jesus live like that? If the Kingdom of God is at hand should we be running around like chickens with our heads cut off? (What a picture!) Getting tired is inevitable but we need to be careful to distinguish between physical fatigue and the fatigue of the inner life. Physical fatigue can often be remedied by a chocolate chip cookie and a nap. I wish the renewal of the inner life was that easy. When Jesus made His comforting invitation to rest (Matthew 11:28) He was referring primarily to soul rest (see verse 29). If my soul is at rest, my body can recuperate but if my soul is agitated, no matter how I am doing physically I will be struggling eventually. I like the way the Message paraphrases those last few lines of Jesus’ invitation, “Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting upon you. Keep company with Me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Ahhh, freely and lightly sounds good don’t you think? There are prerequisites for that kind of life; I’ll talk about them in detail on Sunday as the Lord allows, but you can see them for yourself in the text. The only people who find rest for their souls are the ones who recognize Jesus for who He is, yoke up with Him and learn His ways. In other words, inner refreshment comes as we rearrange our lives to receive it. The normal life of the believer can be one of active rest. We serve, but we serve with Him in His ways. We work, but we work with Him in His ways. We give, but we give out of the resources He has provided. We bless, because we have been blessed. I wish I could change our verbiage, I wish I could change my own, maybe if we really did what Jesus said we could answer the question, “How are you?” with “Resting in Him.” Let’s shoot for normal.