Rest for the Weary

I'm tired.  Some days I would say that I'm exhausted, even.

As I mentioned in my monthly "Currently" post - having a puppy has seriously hurt my sleep pattern.  I'm staying up later than usual and getting up bright and early.  I'm definitely not getting as much sleep as I require.

Many Most of us can relate.  Maybe you're not getting enough rest because of a new puppy, like me.  Or a new baby.  Or a big work project or some other commitment.   Maybe you're dealing with some insomnia.  At one point or another, we all go through a season or two, or five (or a dozen) when we feel tired.

But what if it's more than tired.  What if you are weary?

What's the difference?

Tired is a physical thing.  Tired is lack of physical energy. It's a matter of getting enough sleep... or not.

But weary goes right down to your soul.  Weary is when you are feeling completely depleted - physically, emotionally and/or mentally.  It's more than just being tired.

Either one can cause a strain on our day to day life.  Nothing makes us less able to cope with life's irritations (big or small) than when we feel fatigued.  I know when I am tired I am much easier to annoy.  I snap out at those I love for even silly little things.   And if a bigger problem should arise - forget about it!  Being tired is bad enough, but everything is magnified even bigger when we are weary.

So, what can we do to help avoid or recover from weariness?  A few simple steps may help ease the strain:

• Ask for Support or Help:  Support - an understanding ear or actual help - from a friend or family member makes every stressful situation easier to bear.

• Learn to Say "No":  Avoid overfilling your schedule.  Busyness leads to burnout

• Self-care: Taking time for yourself will help to revive your spirit, refresh your energy levels and renew your productivity and creativity.

• Get some rest! Being tired for an extended period can contribute, or lead to, weariness.  

If the weariness goes on for an extended period,  or is accompanied by other symptoms of depression including anxiety, sadness, hopelessness, loss of interest in pleasurable things, difficulty concentrating, etc - please, please, PLEASE see a professional!

This post is in no way intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.

Made Perfect In Weakness

Last week I wrote about being weary. I just feel weak. It feels as if it's one thing after another. First, I was sick. Then I had the infected tooth that had to be pulled.  Then the allergic rash attack. Now, I am either fighting the worst allergies ever or some sort of autumn cold.  Pile the chilly, gray weather we had the last few days on top of all this. The weariness has led to flat out exhaustion.

It's having an affect on me. It's wearing me down. Making me feel weak and frustrated. These things always seem to hit me on Tuesday or Wednesday, which means I haven't made it to my women's Bible study for 3 weeks now. I'm not writing as much as I would like. I'm not feeling up to doing much of anything. The kitchen isn't as clean as it should be. The bathrooms need a good scrubbing. The laundry isn't staying caught up the way it should. And the family menu shows a distinct lack of creativity this week.

It's easy to start slipping into the "why me" mind set. I want to shake my fist. I want to cry. I want to give up and just go back to bed. We've all been there, or some place very similar to it at one time or another.  Maybe for you it was even a worse place with darker circumstances.  I know my little health issues are tiny compared to what so many others deal with on a daily basis. But this is where I am.

This morning I was thinking that if one more thing comes up anytime soon, or if I don't start feeling much better quickly - I was going to lose my mind.  Then during my morning quiet time, while flipping through my Bible on my way to 1 John - my eyes landed on this piece of scripture:

"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." ~ 2 Corinthians 12:9

The Lord knows we will have times of trouble.  He knows we go through times when we are sick, hurt, tempted, scared or weak.

"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” ~ John 16:33
But He does not want us to be alone or to carry the full burden without help.  He wants us to seek his presence.  To cry out to Him in our time of need.

Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually!" ~ 1 Chronicles 16:11

"In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears." ~ Psalm 18:6


He is there to support us.  To encourage us.  He will refresh us and give us rest!

 "I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint." - Jeremiah 31:25

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." ~ Matthew 11:28

I don't know about you - but I feel a little better already!