Advent Adventure

Journey Fatigue 

Here are three Bible verses that span the scriptures with a reference to fatigue and its remedy.

“It is a sign forever between me and the people of Israel that in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.’” (Exodus 31:17) “He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.” (Isaiah 40:29) “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)

Have you ever had a long and difficulty journey, perhaps hampered by delays or hold-ups of one kind or another. I recall waiting for a flight delayed by 10 hours and at another time of being stuck for 7 hours on the M5 due to an accident further along the road. Such travel problems often sap our energy and fatigue inevitable sets in. At such times of tiredness, it is difficult to be rational and make sane or responsible decisions.

Spiritual weariness is something every pilgrim this side of heaven is acquainted with from time to time. But what about when that weariness is long term; creeping into our lives, making us feel burdened with the weight of continuing on?

We must recognise, like all types of tiredness, that there is often a reason we feel tired. Our eyelids drooping. We probably aren’t getting enough sleep. Our arms weak. We are either  working out too much, or not enough. Tiredness is a symptom of a deeper reality; so it is with our spiritual weariness. There is a distinction to be made, however, between being tired from time to time (which is a sign of healthy labour) and staying tired. When the latter happens, we need to take a more serious look inside, what are the symptoms revealing? 

The creation narrative sets a preventative guidance of the need for rest. The Hebrew word used for rest means to cease, to purposely stop what we are doing and the word refreshed has the meaning to breath.  A modern way of looking at it would be to ‘catch our breath.’ But in this case it is not only catching our own breath but to breathe the breath of the Spirit and it is through this spiritual resuscitation that we are strengthened.

D. A. McBride points out “Sometimes you must stand still in order to get moving to where God wants you to go.”

Dear Lord,

Thank You for another day! Thank You for my life and the purpose You have given me. I come before You tired and ask for a refreshed spirit. I am exhausted and I need Your strength to carry me.  Fill me with joy, so that no matter how tired I am, I rejoice because You are good and Your love endures forever. I pray for other wives who are feeling tired or empty. Help us not to complain amidst our weakness. Restore our minds so that we can still function properly. Give our bodies the energy needed to get through each day. We claim healing in Jesus’ name! Please also help us to manage our time so that we will get the rest we need.  Help us to prune things that are hard to let go of that suck the energy from us. Lord, we lay our lives down at Your throne and praise You in Jesus’ name AMEN!