Just exhausted?

Are you tired? 

Millions of Americans are coping with exhaustion. There are many underlying issues – the inability to ‘unplug’ from work and responsibilities for meaningful breaks, the phones we carry with us that keep us ‘on the alert’ for too many hours, a culture that floods us with information creating a sense of crisis even about those things we cannot control … well, you could probably add your own idea.

I am blessed by the ability to fall asleep in about 30 seconds. When I am on the road, I often find myself nodding in the mid-afternoon. I can fight it, but the best remedy is to find a rest stop, pull up under a shady tree, recline my seat, and drift into a 15-minute nap. Many find it hard to believe that I fall asleep in 10 seconds and wake up with no fatigue.

Unlike most mornings, today I realized that I'm tired! Last week was a high output time, quite enjoyable but a drain on my energy and I need time to recharge, something that does not happen quite as quickly these days as it once did! Being a ‘doer’ by nature, my inclination when I’m tired is to push harder.

However, God's wisdom teaches me that He creates ‘rest stops’ and invites us to find renewal – even while He leads us to be steady, faithful, and to pace ourselves while we wait on His will to be revealed.

Isaiah was inspired to give us these words, mostly likely familiar to you, but rich in promise and hope. "Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint." (Isaiah 40:28-31, NIV)

Fatigue can be dangerous! As I mentioned, I get tired when I’m on the road. IF I push myself too long in that state of drowsiness, when I’m nodding off, I am risking real injury to myself or others because of my lack of alertness. It’s just plain dumb to try to deny the reality.

Friend, when we are tired, we can say cruel things, reach wrong conclusions, making a wreck of life.
When we are exhausted, we are much more likely to experience the tug of temptation as we see what looks like certain relief in things we know are not in the will of God for us. 
When we're really exhausted, we might even become open to the lie that God does not care, that He is not listening.

Pull over! Take a break!

Our American culture presses us to work harder, to keep the lights on well into the night. It’s almost a badge of honor to be exhausted. God invites us to a different way. He says that "those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength." (Isaiah 40:31, NIV)

That phrase is translated in various ways in different Bible versions. In place of 'hope,' some translations say 'wait.' Others say 'trust.' The Hebrew of the original text being expectation, anticipation; hence to “wait hopefully!” Since that is God's counsel, we would be wise to let it speak to us, wouldn't we?

Are you exhausted – mentally, physically, or spiritually? There’s no shame in admitting it.

Find a rest stop and 'wait' for Him.’ 
Learn how to step away for an afternoon to refocus, taking a break where you find a quiet place with God’s Spirit.

Let me add this caution. While entertainment and distractions can be great for us and wonderful fun, there is a difference to be found in real rest, in turning it all over to the Lord, and taking a real rest. It is not something many of us do naturally, but anyone can learn to have a ‘quiet heart.’  How?

1.       Schedule regular time for contemplative prayer, time when you are silent before the Lord.

2.       Turn off the technology for an hour every day; no phone, no noise, no TV – just alone.

3.       Make worship a faithful habit, relearning the “Sabbath” principle taught by the Scripture.

4.       Turn your attention to others. Surprised? So much of what we do is centered on our own agenda, our hidden need to feel ‘successful.’  Regularly serving in a way that has no benefit to us but gives time and attention to others is amazingly renewing.

The birthright of the Christian is ‘abundant life’ not exhaustion! Refuse the lie that you must ‘do more’ or ‘work harder’ or go ‘somewhere to retreat’ before you can rest. Make time to ‘wait on the Lord’ and I can assure you from experience - there will be 'fresh strength!'  Isaiah beautiful picture is that of an eagle that soars on the air currents under his wings.

“Spirit of God, may your gentle Wind blow over me, helping me to rise up, to soar when others sink.”