Fatigue x 3

“'I loathe my life; I will give free utterance to my complaint; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.'”

-Job 10:1, NRSV

Have you ever felt so incredibly down, fatigued, and downright exhausted? In the trials of life, some days we just feel sorry for ourselves. Our bodies are inevitably going to experience fatigue. Physical fatigue. Emotional fatigue. Spiritual fatigue. Our bodies and minds will fail us because this is the reality of our fallen existence. In the midst of this weariness, it can be very tempting to lose hope and blame God. “If God is all good, why does He allow this to happen? If God really loves me, why is He not taking away this pain? I have given Him everything I have. I pray every morning, I tithe, I’m nice to my family! (...most of the time) Why do I still suffer?”

However, let us be reminded of our dear friend, Job. He suffered greatly in his lifetime. Yet he continued to hope in God. In the beginning of the book of Job, Satan challenges God that Job will turn away from Him (God) if Job experiences immense suffering. Therefore, what follows in the book of Job is well . . . Job suffering immensely! (see Job 1:6-12, NRSV)

In Job’s suffering, there is a lot that can be learned. One important thing: Job turned his suffering over to God.

Then Job answered the Lord: "I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. 'Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?' Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. 'Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you declare to me.' I have heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” Job 42:1-6 NRSV

While we may not be rushing out to “repent in dust and ashes” there is something we can learn from Job. When life just isn’t going our way, we must continually return to the Lord in prayer. In the depths of our fatigue, our mental illness, our brokenness, we must reach out to the Lord in whatever way we can. Even if all we can muster up is a brief, “I love you, Jesus”. . . that is sufficient.

“. . . ‘my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness’” 2 Corinthians 12:9, NRSV

In Christ,

Lauren