I am weary, O God;
I am weary and worn out, O God.
I am too stupid to be human,
and I lack common sense.
I have not mastered human wisdom,
nor do I know the Holy One. (Proverbs 30:1-3, NLT)

Have you read Proverbs 30 lately? It was written by a guy named Agur and it is full of ramblings and reflections about snakes, adulterers, leeches, lizards, ants, kings, fools and bloody noses. It’s perfectly random—but I like his honesty.

In the first three verses of his contribution to the most famous book of wisdom literature in the world, Agur doesn’t try to impress with profundity, but rather, he’s real. He says he’s “weary and worn out,” and with that, . . . he has my attention. Because ALL of us are exhausted these days as we navigate this pre/post/current pandemic world.

Then he says, “he lacks common sense,” and is “too stupid to be human.” Although that seems a bit harsh, it’s not too far from how I feel just about every day, especially today, as I try to figure out how to flush the hard water deposits out of my water heater. Life is hard—in the most humbling ways—and so is my self-talk.

And finally, Agur gets painfully honest and says, “nor do I know the Holy One.” 𝑶𝒖𝒄𝒉. In the midst of the mess of this world and the messiness of my heart, I too at times feel far from God—because I am.

So, where does all this honesty and self-deprecation leave Agur, me, (and you)? Surprisingly, it leaves us in the perfect place to find God, for Agur’s list perfectly describes the qualifications and credentials of those who can come to Jesus.

Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30, NLT)

Jesus doesn’t want perfection, He just wants us to come to Him.