Life can be exhausting. Think of what takes so much energy:
- Tasks to be done. (And, dealing with situations where the task was not done or was not done well.)
- Maintenance and stewardship of finances. (And, dealing with finances when you have overspent and lived beyond your means.)
- Care and feeding of relationships. (And, dealing with relationships where there is conflict. Friends. Marriage. Parents/children.)
- Emotions. Expressing them and managing them. (And, dealing with emotions that expressed in certain ways can actually be harmful.)
You can probably think of more factors that account for life being so exhausting. This morning, I want to leave you with Scripture. These words from Isaiah 41 have been so helpful and hopeful to me:
You whom I have taken from
the ends of the earth, And called from its remotest parts, And said
to you, "You are My servant"; I have chosen you and not rejected
you. Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about
you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help
you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
Behold, all those who are angered at you will be shamed and
dishonored; those who contend with you will be as nothing, and will
perish. You will seek those who quarrel with you, but will not find
them, Those who war with you will be as nothing, and non-existent.
For I am the Lord your God, who upholds your right hand, Who says
to you, "Do not fear, I will help you."
Thank you, Jim, for bringing the Lord’s promises into focus. For me, when I let these slip from the forefront of my thinking fear and anxiety follow closely along behind. Thanks, again, for this post You have blessed my life today. -bill
Lately I’ve empathized with those stressed by church conflict. These conflicts are extremely exhausting.
But I remember that Isaiah and many other prophets faced stress of a magnitude beyond our comprehension.
Peace.
Thanks for this. Beautiful, encouraging words. …. chosen, not rejected….. upheld with his righteous hand….
Jim, thanks for the reminder that our strength come from God. I agree with Dallas Willard that the OT word for energy is "creation," and the NT word is "grace." We are soulized and partially spiritualized creatures burning God’s fuel. No matter how exhausted we might become, we have an inexhaustible energy source! We’ll never hit "Empty." Maybe we’ll run a bit sluggish, but that’s usually because we need a tune up, and not because the fuel isn’t available.
Ben
These are the kind of verses that I always find comforting, and not. Jesus was God’s Servant, but we see what he had to face. Sometimes the peace comes after the suffering. Indeed, this verse in Isaiah follows on the observation in 40 that Jerusalem has just suffered double for all her sins.
I don’t mean to take away the comfort of 41… just thinking… when we are comforted, it is usually because we have suffered.
Wonderful verses. Thanks.
Jim,
Thanks for the encouragement. I was able to share this post with some others yesterday who are in a struggle. I also needed it badly. I never fail to be amazed at how God speaks to me just when I need it most.
Oh! My! Word! God just blew my ever lovin’ MIND!!Jim, I’m not a regular reader, if I’m not mistaken, I bloglined you when one of my "regular reads" linked something back to you. Today I opened a few blogs, but because I was working on a deadline for a newsletter I write, I didn’t read ANY of them. I was feeling very discouraged, dashed off a post, and then began closing my open tabs because I’m headed out now. Your page was just sitting here open–I didn’t even recognize it…and I read your post, and all I could think was "God…KNOWS…me! And I touched the hem of His power and I’m devastated by His grace…and mercy…and love.Wow. Thanks………I was hungry for this and didn’t even realize it.
Bill,Thanks. I am learning to cherish more and more the promises of God–especially the promise of his care and presence.
Steve,It is so helpful for me to remember that we are not the first to experience great stress, fear, anxiety, etc. I’m thankful for promises like these.
Paula– Thanks!
Keith,Isn’t it amazing how God provides verses, encouragment, hope when we need it so badly? Thanks.
Ben— I like what you said re "empty"
Robin,Glad you read this blog today. I’m glad that in some way what is here encouraged you. Hope you will come back.
L.L.Suffering— That is the rest of the story. As you say, while the encouragement is comforting, the suffering is unnerving. Thanks.