Rest & Recharge for the Weary Heart

Summer is here—but instead of feeling restful, many of us feel...off.

The kids are out of school, schedules are unpredictable, and somehow the promise of slower days turns into a whirlwind of snacks, sunscreen, and activities. If you’ve ever joked that you feel more like a cruise ship director than a parent this time of year, you’re not alone.

As a mom, wife, and therapist, I feel it too. There’s a tension in this season—between wanting to savor these moments and secretly longing for structure, silence, and space to breathe. Summer feels like a contradiction: it dangles the idea of rest and fun in front of us, but often leaves us feeling more depleted than before.

This summer, we don’t have any big trips planned. No epic destinations or dream getaways. And if I’m honest, there’s a little ache in me about that. A feeling of missing out, of being left behind while others are making memories at the beach or the mountains.

But I’m realizing something important: even if I did have the picture-perfect vacation, it still might not satisfy the kind of rest my heart is truly craving.

Because that kind of rest—the deep soul-rest we all long for—doesn’t come from a break in routine or a change in scenery. It comes from being known, being cared for, and being reminded that we don’t have to carry everything on our own.

Jesus invites us into that kind of rest. In Matthew 11:28–30, He says:

“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.

For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

That’s not a vague spiritual idea—it’s a real invitation for our real exhaustion.

If you’re feeling burned out already, barely into June... if your summer doesn’t look like you imagined... if you secretly wish you could be the kid again—carefree and unburdened—know this:

You are God’s kid.
He sees the mental load, the emotional weight, the hidden weariness.
He knows you’re trying to be everything for everyone.
And He’s not asking you to do more. He’s asking you to come to Him.

Let’s give ourselves permission to stop chasing the mirage of summer perfection and start leaning into something more real: God’s presence, God’s rest, and God’s provision.

What if this summer, instead of striving, we simply asked:
“God, what do You have for me in this season?”

Let’s trade hustle for healing. Let’s embrace rest that actually restores.
Let’s remind ourselves—and each other—that we don’t have to earn rest. It’s already ours in Him.

You’re not behind. You’re not failing. You’re just human.
And you’re not alone.

With grace,
Jessica McDaniel, LPC