When You Feel Weary
Whenever I think about my life, I imagine myself walking along a path. I can’t quite see what’s up ahead most of the time, but I know that as I continue walking, I will arrive at my destination. Seeing my life in this way has helped me to develop a healthy perspective when trials come my way. Whenever I’m walking through a difficult season that is causing me some sort of pain, I see them as roadblocks or delays that I have to overcome. In the same way, I look at the small inconveniences of life as potholes that I have to manoeuvre my way around in order to continue walking towards my destination.
Although viewing my life and my journey through these lens has helped me in many ways, I still oftentimes struggle with weariness. While I have already decided that I will keep walking, no matter what comes my way, there are moments along my journey when I become very weary. Moments when I feel over-worked, fatigued and just flat-out tired. I’m sure there are many of you who can relate. Recently, I’ve been wrestling with weariness. Some days, I would wake up feeling rejuvenated, but then the obligations and responsibilities of life would tug on me until I feel like I have little strength left. I think this is the reality of most people working towards their goals, or just going about their day-to-day activities. Weariness is a real thing, and if we don’t know how to properly manage our weariness, it is very easy to give up. It’s very easy to check-out, or wave that white flag in surrender because we don’t have anything left to give.
In the midst of my weariness, I’ve been seeking direction from God on how to overcome it. I understand that only He can truly help me not only manage my weariness but give me the strength that I need to persevere in the midst of it. There are two things that God has been teaching me about weariness, and I want to share them with you.
1. Ask God for strength. I’ve been learning to ask God for strength in the midst of intense weariness. For instance, one day last week, I woke up feeling so weary that I didn’t want to get out of bed. I thought about all of my commitments and I felt incredibly overwhelmed. In the moment, I cried out to God for strength because I honestly felt like I had no strength left in me to give. Isaiah 40:29 (NIV) says that, “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” I remember reading that verse and being so desperate for strength that I prayed it over and over. I meditated on that verse as I got out of bed and prepared for the day. By the time I was ready to make breakfast, I felt a surge of strength that I hadn’t felt in a long time, and I knew that it came from God. If you’re feeling weary, ask God for strength and believe that He will give it to you.
2. Rest. If you’re anything like me, then the word “rest” is somewhat of a double-edged sword. I am one of those people who either rests too much, or not enough, and I am praying and asking the Lord for a healthy balance. Even so, it’s important to know how to rest when you feel weary. I think rest can look differently for each person. For instance, when I’m resting, I usually prefer to be alone and sit outside in nature or take time to journal in a quiet place. Rest for someone else may be going for a long walk, or a hike with a friend to unwind. However, whenever I think about rest nowadays, I remember Jesus’ words in Matthew 11:28 (NIV) which says, “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” This is the most beautiful form of rest that we can experience—the rest that comes from spending time in the presence of God. In the midst of my weariness, I’m learning to take advantage of this gift of rest that Jesus offers us. It’s easy to take it for granted, but I am asking God to help me remember everyday that this is the best form of rest that I can ever receive.
We all become weary at some point in our lives, but the beauty is that we can look to Jesus for strength in the midst of it. If you’re feeling weary or fatigued, I encourage you to ask God for strength and find time to rest. I believe that practicing these two simple yet profound steps will give you the strength that you need to keep walking.