I am so tired. How many times in the last week have you said—or thought—those very words? The burdens and responsibilities of life sometimes rest heavily upon us and our strength seems insufficient. Too many demands make us weary and tired—and it’s not good to be tired, unless fatigue is balanced by a normal renewal of strength.
Did you ever stop to consider where you get your energy? It comes from God: “I will strengthen the weak” (Ezekiel 34:16). When your energy runs down and you feel weak and tired, you can go back to Him, and He who created your energy can recreate it. Remember those words from John 1:4: “in him was life.” He will give life to you if you ask Him and live according to His will. You can overcome weakness, and abnormal tiredness will no longer be a problem.
Nothing makes you more tired than carrying around a bunch of stuff you don’t need. “Let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfector of our faith” (Hebrews 12:1).
One way to overcome tiredness is to lay aside the heavy weights that sap your strength—weights such as fear, hate, anger, impatience and all types of sin. In fact, sin is the heaviest of all weights, and it must be laid aside if we are to run the race of life and win. Move forward with determination, keeping Jesus in mind. He will sustain you always.
How can you find rest and renewal in the midst of your hectic life? Simply become very aware of God’s presence, realizing that He will help you with your responsibilities. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29). God will show you how to work with conservation of energy, how to work in a relaxed manner and feel rested, rather than tired.
Next time you’re feeling tired, struggling with your work load or your worries, say this verse aloud several times: “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest” (Exodus 33:14). I WILL GIVE YOU REST…the very words every tired soul longs to hear!