I chatted on the phone with a friend not long ago, and we swapped snapshots of what’s going on in our lives. After sharing how the spouses, kids, and jobs were getting along, this friend asked me those four plain but powerful words: “How are you doing?” And because she isn’t interested in over-sifted I’m fine! answers, I knew she wouldn’t settle for less than total honesty.
So I told her the straight up truth: “I feel endlessly tired, ridiculously so. And really, I’ve been saying this for a long time. Why can’t I just snap out of it?”
She asked me to tell her more, so I said: “Ya know, I have several hard things coming at me from different angles, and many of them just aren’t going away. I’m realizing that the lingering is just a fact of life. I don’t anticipate the weight lifting anytime soon, and I’m worn out from the load.”
She warmly listened as she always does, agreeing with me that given all this, I had good reason to be tired.
And that’s when I noticed my tears slipping south.
Oh, what a kindness it is to have someone listen to you and say, “You know, given all that, you have good reason to feel the way you do.”
What a relief it is to find a heart advocate who hears you, who validates what you’re feeling.
Let me tell you, I don’t generally say these kinds of things to myself. Instead, I say things like, Okay, so these things aren’t taking a permanent vacation anytime soon and you’re tired. So what? Nobody cares that you have 3 teenagers in your house and you’re busy and have a lot on your plate. Countless others are dealing with countless more. You need to get a grip, lady, and get it yesterday.
Do you also have an inner critic who is never too tired for a tongue-lashing?
What if instead of listening to the inner critic who never tires of being against us, we listened to our Creator who is always, always for us?
God is not in cahoots with that critic, and He certainly isn’t that voice Himself. He stands in contrast to it, and His Son stands in victory over it.
“From such a vantage, He is able to save those who approach God through Him for all time because He will forever live to be their advocate in the presence of God.” {Hebrews 7:25}
Jesus is not our adversary, He is our advocate. And if He never expected us to get worn out, He never would have needed to remind us: “rest in Me.”
I don’t know what difficulties won’t leave your lap today. I wish they would take a permanent vacation — so you could get a permanent vacation from them.
But if in the meantime they’re totally wearing you out, let me look you in the eyes and say, “You know, you have good reason to feel the way you do.”
There will be seasons when hard things hangs on even after you try to shove them out the door. Just don’t shove hope out instead.
Because while the wind howls and the lion roars, the Lamb reigns.
Christ is with you, alongside you as you do only what today requires you do. The next time your thoughts try to nudge you towards hopelessness and condemnation, turn away from them and let them crash to the floor. Hush that bully-critic and listen to your Creator. Can you hear Him?
He says, “You know, given all this, you have good reason to feel the way you do. But I have good reason for allowing what I do, and I promise it will be okay.”
May we not separate ourselves from this truth.
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Bev @ Walking Well With God says
Kristen,
Oh how I needed this. I have found myself dragging my weary body to bed at night and not able to get up in the morning. Heading up a new and growing non-profit is way more work than I ever expected. Definitely rewarding, but nevertheless a lot to do. Many have been quick to give advice, which is needed, but like you, I need that person to look me in the eye and validate my feelings. I think that’s what Jesus means when He says “rest in me”. I picture my Savior with arms open wide saying, “Come here let me hug you and tell me everything that’s on your heart and I will listen.” Oh how the enemy loves to strike when we are weary…but remembering that God is always FOR ME so who can be against me…is well worth heading. Thanks for an uplifting post for this weary soul. Praying for you as well…
Blessings to you friend,
Bev xx
KristenStrong says
I love the words you share here, Bev. And yep, I SO GET IT. I’m praying right now that someone comes alongside you and validates all your feeling today. And tomorrow.
So much love to you!
Bev @ Walking Well With God says
Thanks…much appreciated!!! xoxo
Beth Williams says
Bev,
Thank you for heeding God’s will and doing His work. I get it and understand your tiredness. So much paperwork and it must be done just so. May God bring rest to your weary tired body and allow you to feel comfort and peace!
Blessings 🙂
Bev @ Walking Well With God says
Thank you, Beth, for validating my feelings and offering encouragement and prayer!! Bev xx
Graham says
“Resting in God” gives me peace. When situations in my life seem to weigh me down, God picks me up & gives me peace. Sometimes it’s hard for me to let go & let God handle things because I feel the need to try to handle things myself. But God. ..He has a way of helping me recognize that I must let go & let Him have His way. When I let it go, He lifts the burden from me & gives me peace that surpasses every understanding. Thanks for the message Kristen!
KristenStrong says
Beautifully said, Graham. Thank you!
Susan (SJG) says
These are the words I needed for my weary daughter-in-law. I am forwarding it to her with a prayer for peace from her own critical voices. And advice to sit down with her Bible and take time for prayer and especially time to listen for God’s voice in her needs. Thank your for these beautiful words of hope. Blessings to all.
KristenStrong says
I’m praying now she is able to receive it and believe it.
Thank you for your presence here, Susan. You are a gift!
KristenStrong says
Thank you for reading, Rachel, and for being here. Much love!
Joanne Peterson says
Kristen, it’s been a long season, and it hasn’t just gone away. I now don’t compare anymore, (finally) but it doesn’t change the physically and emotionally exhausting situation I am in and may be for quite a while yet.
Your devotion reminds me of Jer 29:11 in the Amplified Classic version “For I know the thoughts and plans for your says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace, and not for evil, ‘to give you hope in your final outcome’.” I need this reminder of your devotion today, and for a time to come of the hope in the final outcome, a reminder that He sees me and is reigning. Blessings, Joanne
KristenStrong says
Joanne, I’m so glad you brought this translation of Jer 29:11 to my attention. I hadn’t heard it till now. Thank you, and I’m praying for you in your season of hardship. xo
Beth Williams says
Joanne,
Prayers for God to comfort your tired weary body. May you sense Him holding you as you rest in His peace. Thanks for the new translation of Jeremiah 29:11. I hadn’t heard of that one.
Blessings 🙂
Camille says
Thank you so much for this very timely reminder! This post was SUCH a comfort to me. I suffer from anxiety and OCD, and I guess I am having a “flare up” if you will. And wondering why I have to go through this process another minute. It’s so hard and frightening to me. But I know that at this time in my life I am stronger and more trusting of my God so I am hopeful I can get through this episode with more hope and confidence. I loved your analogy of letting your thoughts crash on the floor. I will be using this image to help me. And also when you wrote “you know, you have good reason to feel the way you do” THANK YOU! I will be reminding myself of that all day, and during this difficult process.
Camille 🙂
KristenStrong says
Praying right now, Camille, that the Lord brings you abundant hope today, and that He brings it in ways that speak directly into your anxiety. Thank you for blessing us with a part of your story here. You are a gift!
Camille says
Wow thank you so much! I am so grateful for that, and for your prayers.
Beth Williams says
Camille,
Praying for relief from the great healer! May you feel Him surrounding you with His loving arms giving you the rest & hope you need!! It is ok to feel the way you do. God understands and so do I. Sending a virtual hug your way. Prayers for God to send hope and confidence your way in abundance!
Blessings 🙂
Camille says
I appreciate this so much Beth!
My day is getting easier and easier 🙂
kwpastorwife says
Oh my goodness! God is so GOOD!
I have sais “I’m just so weary” more times than I can count over the past several months….maybe even over the past few years.
This was SUCH a comfort to my heart! I give myself the stern “get a grip! others are dealing with far more than you!” talk often.
Thank you for this reminder that God understands my struggle.
KristenStrong says
And it’s a comfort to me to know that I’m not the only one. Thank you so much for being here and sharing! Much love to you.
An says
Oh Lord, how I praise you for this post today 🙂 Thank you, Kristen, for allowing the Lord to speak through your heart these gentle words that remind me that God is for me and wants to heal every wound. There are so many weary souls that I know right now, including myself, and to hear validating words is a balm to the spirit that says “I am with you.” May the gracious Lord hold each of us of us weary in His tender arms of rest, knowing that when we are “weak, we are strong.” 🙂
KristenStrong says
“When we are weak, we are strong.”
Yes and amen. Thank you, An.
Chris says
This was the perfect thing for me to read today. Ten months ago today I lost the love of my life. Grieving is tiring, it’s exhausting. When I talk with a friend who actually listens to me and says no wonder you feel the way you do, their words and kindness do mean so much. So very much. Sometimes it’s all I need to hear, someone understands and yes validates my feelings. Although I know that God is with me on this grief journey and I do believe that He has a plan for the rest of my life it is hard to really let Him handle it and see what happens. Loss of the control of my life and fear of the unknown are difficult to manage. I do know my faith has strengthened since my husband died and I will continue to rely on that. Thank you for giving so much of yourself to all of us.
Julia says
Chris,
I understand completely what you mean about how difficult and tiring the journey of grief is. I lost my grandma a few days before Christmas in 2014 and the fear of the unknown and loss of control have been a real challenge for me, too. I didn’t know how completely overwhelming if could be to see Bandana (she wore them a lot) and have your heart just ache. And the kindness of a friend who continuously checks on you and listens is such a gift. May God continue to comfort you in your grief and you know how deeply, wide and long he loves you. You aren’t alone. ❤️
KristenStrong says
Chris, I am so sorry for your loss. Grieving IS exhausting. Losing your spouse must feel like losing a part of yourself, so the loss is especially strong. Know I’m praying for you right now, that God continues to surround you with affirming, supportive people who love you like Jesus with skin on. May you know His love and grace today and always. xoxo
Beth Williams says
Kristen,
Such timely advice for all women. God bless you for being so open and honest about life. For a while I was going through major stresses with my aging dad and work. I felt tired and worn down. Like Bev I felt the enemy striking vigorously when in the midst of it all. Praise God He reigns. After two plus years the struggle has subsided for now. I can rest in His calm assurances.
Blessings 🙂
Jenny Howell says
Kristen, I am so hopeful that even in the hard moments – you can sense His reign. Our inner-critic can be such a screamer right? I’ve been loving J.Eldridge “Walking With God”…totally teaching me much about hearing God. Blessings over ya.
Jenny
KristenStrong says
Jenny, thanks so much for your comments here, and thanks for this book recommend. I haven’t read this one, and now I’ve put it on my list!
Much love to you.
Victoria says
very much needed this today. I have a situation that I just wish would go away and was just hit by it, again. I knew these truths shared and even have been resting in God…it’s just nice to see the words written by someone else to confirm what He has been telling me.