UNSTUCK: From Fatigue
“Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:28-31
WHY DO I GET MORE FATIGUED THAN I SHOULD?
I Carry What I Should Not Carry
“You are going to wear yourself out and the people too. This job is too heavy a burden for you to handle all by yourself.” Exodus 18:18
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG)
If you want to get from here to there, you have to learn to travel light.
2. I Worry When I Should Not Worry
“Give your cares to God because He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7
25 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?
27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? 28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. 34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” Matthew 6:25-34
3. I Hurry When I Should Not Hurry
I must plan SPACE in my day, so I can keep a steady PACE in my life.
4. I Work When I Should Not Work
“Remember the Sabbath day”
Exodus 20:8
“It’s the Lord who renews my strength” Psalm 23:3
“Times of refreshment will come in the presence of the Lord” Acts 3:20
“Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the almighty.” Psalm 91:1
“Come to ME, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
“Be still and know that I am God” Psalm 46:10
Today, I will take inventory of all I carry and will ask God for wisdom to identify what I should no longer carry, and I will lay that burden down.
Today, I will list everything I worry about and will confess that worry diminishes faith and belittles God. And today, I will place these worries in life into the hands of my loving, powerful God and will refuse to take these worries back. These are His to handle.
Today, I will examine my schedule and ask God to show me what matters to Him. I will build into my day extra margin…SPACE so I can live at a PACE that is without hurry and pleasing to Jesus.
Today, I will commit myself to weekly time away from my work and weekly time in relationship with the Lord. I will come to Him to find rest for my soul.
I affirm my desire to no longer live in fatigue, but to begin to live in victory!
Amen