The Road of Weariness
When I think of weariness, I think first of physical weariness. We experience that after enduring a long day, week, or season of exerting ourselves too much physically.
Physical weariness is easy to recognize and generally is quickly corrected with the right amount of rest & diet.
However, I think emotional and spiritual weariness are much more difficult to recognize, and they take greater recovery time because of the subtlety that often allows them to go undetected for longer periods of time. These kinds of weariness are just as real as the physical, but the prescription for me is often more than just a simple good night’s sleep or day off.
I’ve learned the following about my own emotional and spiritual weariness…
- I grow emotionally weary when I try to control people and things to do what I’d prefer they should.
- I grow spiritually weary when I attempt to do things “by myself” without God’s direction, power, love, wisdom, or knowledge.
Weariness can be a result of thinking I can control people, places, and things; which I cannot. And, believing I somehow know better than God what’s best concerning me without remaining open to his larger perspective and greater purpose.
Weary? Think about this as a starting point:
It’s our weariness that Jesus uses to invite us back into the welcoming heart and rejuvenating spirit of God.
Jesus asks, “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me.”
“Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.”
“Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” —Matt 11:28-30 the msg.
It seems the road of weariness leads us straight to God!
