It is pretty remarkable how different I am throughout the course of a day when I enter the day feeling rested. For that matter, even on days where I may not have had the best night’s sleep the night before, I can still approach the day in a better way when I am rested. Maybe I allow myself – and have the ability to – take a nap. It doesn’t have to be a nap though. Perhaps instead it is carving out a small chunk of time to rest, relax, and regroup my thoughts. However I achieve the rest, the result of it is the same. I feel better. I am less easily triggered by the small stuff. I am more aware of others and less self-absorbed or focused on my exhaustion.
Exhaustion. Just hearing the word exudes the feeling for me. It’s something I have experienced more than I ever have cared to. There is that lacking of physical energy and drive, but even more disturbing for me is the cloudy brain feeling that accompanies it. My recall and my problem solving are impacted. My emotions are escalated because of the physical, mental, and now emotionally complex way every part of me is wired together.
I am not a fan of exhaustion. Can you tell?
The thing about exhaustion is that there isn’t just one cause for it, is there? It doesn’t only arrive when sleep escapes. It seeps into our bodies as we deal with fear, as we deal with crisis, as we deal with a constant need to be flexible and change. Exhaustion hits us when we are having to spend time in deep level thinking, expending great creative juices, and being constantly bombarded with the needs of others. We arrive on the doorstep of exhaustion when we are trying to make sense of and take control of that which is completely out of our control or is non-sensical to us.
It doesn’t matter how we arrive at it. What matters is how we combat it. What are we doing to change where we are dwelling?
I was reminded that Jesus, because he came to Earth as a man, experienced exhaustion too. What is interesting is that Jesus, even knowing his time here on Earth was limited, did not allow himself to continue in a state of exhaustion for too long before he did something about it. What did Jesus do? He rested. He carved out opportunities of alone time. He would remove himself from those he was shepherding and spent time with his Father refueling. Jesus was weary, but Jesus knew that times of withdrawal and rest were what preceded the miraculous. Time and time again in the documentation of his life in gospel books of the New Testament, we read that Jesus “went off to pray,” or even “fell asleep in the boat.” Following those words we see Jesus ready again to perform miracles. Was Jesus weary? You bet. But Jesus didn’t turn a blind eye to his exhaustion, he did something about it.
Sometimes, our exhaustion comes from us simply mistaking continual activity with important activity. Sometimes what we fill our plate with is not actually in our best interest – or even aligned with God’s plan for us – it is simply our seeking to work for God – our trying to make opportunities of service to Him. It comes from different motives entirely – it is our trying to earn His respect or the respect of others. It’s like we have it backwards. We aren’t called to be the opportunity makers, God is. Instead of our actions and words determining our ministry and our involvement in activity after activity, we need to do a better job of seeking to live with God and for God. We need to let Him do the work and let Him lead us into the exact situations he wants us involved in. Nothing more but nothing less.
I think we often rely upon the Philippians 4:13 mentality that I can do all things through Christ – therefore I should attempt to do all things… But is that what God meant? I don’t believe it is. I don’t think God meant that we should “do all things” and then rely on Him to find the strength in which to do them. I think He meant that for each and everything that God has called us to do – specifically given us to be involved in – He will provide His reliable strength to support us and carry us through the task.
It makes sense, doesn’t it? If God’s strength is sufficient – and it is – I would not be in a state of exhaustion if either 1) I am truly relying upon Him; and 2) I am not taking that gift and expecting God to join me in my endeavors but rather that I am seeking to join Him in His. I think for many of us we spend so much time doing, and working, and going, we forget that God desires us – even commands us – to rest. To be. To seek Him. To draw near to Him. To dwell in His presence. To recharge.
God is not a God of chaos. God is not a slave-driver. God is a seeking God. He loves to use us to bring others into a relationship with Him. However, we need to be available for that to happen. We need to consider how we fill our time and determine who’s driving those commitments.
Are you exhausted? Be intentional about rest.
LORD, sometimes we believe we know what is best for us. We fill our time with things that are not important. Forgive us, LORD. We want to be obedient. We may even have the best of intentions, but clearly we are doing it wrong. LORD, we ask for wisdom. We ask for discernment. Show us how you want to use us. Place us where you want us. Open our eyes to the opportunities you place before us intentionally. Help us to rely upon you. For you know best. Father, we know you desire to refine those you love. We know you love us. Help us then, to embrace, and even seek refinement from you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Blessings!