When We Feel As Though We Can't Go On

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. --Isaiah 40:28

There are days when I peer over the rim of my glasses and think to myself. “Shish, will this day not end?” Haven’t you felt like that before? The demands of work and family simply seem to send us into overload. A good friend used an excellent analogy that I think is fair to borrow. He said, “Fog. It’s like I’m in a fog.”

We all tend to overload our plates. After all, the world is much faster paced than it used to be. There’s more to do and less free time to do it. We’re being pulled apart from every angle. Someone wants something every time we turn around. Suddenly, we snap like a twig.

I believe there is something to be said for learning to listen to that still small voice which God offers us. There are times when, if we listen, the Father is saying, “Wait a minute, take a break. I can’t work through you when you’re worn and tattered.” Do we listen? Of course not, we continue on our merry way piling and heaping until neither our bodies nor our minds can function.

I’m in a phase in a phase in my life right now, where the Father is teaching me to slow down. The bad part is, I’m kicking and screaming the entire time. I love the words of Isaiah when he asks two questions – and he asks them somewhat dumbfounded that we don’t get it. He says, “Don’t you know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the end of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.” Isn’t that great? Isaiah is dumbfounded those listening haven’t figured out God doesn’t tire. We do. So it’s our job to rest. God has things under control.

Whether it’s work, or home, or even our work within the church, there are times we all tire. The feelings of “I feel as though I can’t go on” hits us between the eyes. Sometimes, it’s okay to stop things and step back, re-evaluate what we’re doing. Test the waters to see if we are pacing ourselves so that God can work through us appropriately. We are not required to do God’s job of overseeing the world, and we’re pretty presumptuous to think He needs our assistance. Instead, we need to focus on the life that renewed within us. Take our obligations seriously, such as rearing our children to know Christ, setting the example for those who we meet daily, worshiping the Father, and making time to know Him fully. He’s got the rest under control. Sit back, rest for God does not tire or grow weary. He will carry us through.

Prayer: We are tired, Lord. Our minds stressed and our lives are whizzing past. Help us to slow the pace so that we are worthy and able to be the servants You wish us to be. Give us rest.