My mind kept drifting to the song, Oh My Soul. There is one lyric, “Oh, how you’re weary, from fearing you lost control.” It is more than just being a little sad or tired but that gut wrenching pain where even just breathing takes effort. Your vision is blurred from the tears. Your whole being is sucked of its energy. Your brain power, emotions, and even your spirit is past the point of exhaustion.
The battles of life are real and raw and are happening on so many levels. When you find yourself in the fight for your life due to a health diagnosis. Prayers hover over my friend who was hospitalized recently. Intensive care is no place you want your loved one to be in so prayers for recovery to overcome the weariness over health issues. Praises to my friend for staying in the battle to win her brother out of addiction and even better coming to church. Understandable if she would have given up, but even though she was tired she was weary she never left the battle. Another friend who in daily pain stayed strong on this campaign who is sticking it out through this battle for our country. So many other examples of weary people who are choosing not to leave the battlefield.
If you are in the midst of a battle here are some reassuring words where you can be encouraged and refreshed:
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).
He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall,
But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint (Isaiah 40: 29-31).
“For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul” (Jeremiah 31: 25).
I think we all know how it feels to be weary:
-turn to the Lord and ask him to fill you with a fresh outpouring of His Living Water
-feeling depleted, then open God’s Word to nourish your spirit
-be refreshed by refreshing others so encourage someone else to today to brighten your own heavy heart
-remember that prayer is just a dialogue with a loving Father who will never turn you away
A pastor asked a question about what we will do after November 5th and it doesn’t go how we would like it to go? Pray was the #1 answer from the audience. I think we are all feeling a bit weary from this election cycle. His response was you wake up and you pick up your cross and you head right back out there into the battle because we know how the battle ends. Jesus will be coming back if you believe it or not. But, as believers, yes, we kneel in prayer but armor up and grab your sword as there are souls to fight for. Then he quoted John Quincy Adams, “Duty is ours, results are God’s.”
“Adams explained his quote to a reporter by saying, “It's only up to me to do the right thing. It's up to God what happens after that”. He also said, “I would point out from scripture, God has not called us to be successful, he's called us to be faithful.”
Heard this new song by Jeremy Camp called “These Days.” It inspires us to keep pushing because:
I believe that you and I
Are in the right place, at the right time
God called us by name
And He doesn't make mistakes
I know we were born to shine bright
In a dark world that needed some light
Don't have to be afraid
Maybe we were made for these days
Prayers over our country, communities, and families. God Bless each of you!
dreamsdontfade.com (new posts on toxic empathy, social gospel, and yep more on education)