Many people know what it is to be tired and fatigued at some point in their lives. To feel weary; which by definition is an extreme fatigue and reluctance to see or experience any more of anything!
The truth however is that most things that are worth doing are going to push and stretch us out of our comfort zones. They are things which at some stage will probably make us feel incredibly weary and will even tempt us to quit.
This weariness and the desire to quit is especially prevalent when it looks like we might or have failed because failure is what many people are afraid of. But perhaps as Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail.” Which is what I try to teach our kids and anyone else that’s listening in that it’s better to at least try something, than never try at all. Failure is not the end of the world, and any mistakes we make are proof that we are trying and hopefully learning along the way.
I’ve had my share of failures and weariness; from feeling like I could have done better with our kids, other relationships, leadership and just life in general. But I’ve also learnt some keys on how to keep going and not to quit!
1. Learn to rest, not to quit. Seek balance – work hard, but remember to have fun; to rest, recharge, and prosper your soul; which means discovering what brings us joy, rest and refreshing. Downtime is vital so we must make ourselves take some. Jesus set this example for us when He encourages His disciples to come away from the needy crowds so they could all rest awhile. (Mark 6:31)
2. Stop looking at the problems. Jesus said there would be problems, but He also said He has overcome them. Don’t keep looking at the problem, or what everyone else is doing or saying – look at Jesus and believe Him! “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
3. Stand firm –be resolute, stubborn, tenacious, and choose to act and think upon who God says you are, and what you are capable of in Him. Sometimes we just have to dig deep into who we are, and God’s strength in us, and stand firm!
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” ((Philippians 4:13),
“If God is for us who can be against us.”(Romans 8:31)
“Put on the full armour of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:11)
4. Choose your words – Having six babies I know what it is to be so tired I felt physically ill. I’d say, “I’m so tired” all the time. But then God started to tell me to stop saying I’m tired all the time, and to instead speak positive, energising words. It worked! I’ve learnt to speak only what He said about my body, my situation, my future, family, nation, and His plan for my life. “He says, “Let the weak say they are strong” (Joel 3:10).Our bodies listen to what we say, and all of creation responds to faith filled words. Learn to speak the promises in God’s word because “He is watching over his word to perform it!(Jeremiah 1:12)
“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” (Proverbs 18:21)
“Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.” (Proverbs 13:3)
Choose friends well – when fighting weariness we need to have friends who will be there alongside us; who will listen, be willing to reach out to help, will pray with faith, encourage, inspire and spur us on so that we will not give up! “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labour, for if they fall, one will lift up his companion.”(Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)
God is faithful and promises to give strength to the weary and to help us keep going so that we will in due time reap a harvest.
“He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.”(Isaiah 40:20-30)
Feeling weary or a failure today? Then look up, take a rest, prosper your soul, turn to Jesus for strength and help and learn from your mistakes and determine to just keep going and don’t you quit!
“Let’s do it – full of belief, confident that we’re presentable inside and out. Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. God always keeps His Word. Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshipping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:23-25 The Message Bible)