Question 1

Why am I so tired?

Accepted Answer

Job 7:1-3“Is not all human life a struggle? Our lives are like that of a hired hand, like a worker who longs for the shade, like a servant waiting to be paid. I, too, have been assigned months of futility, long and weary nights of misery.”The struggles of life can be tiring when they are relentless and seem futile.Nehemiah 4:10Then the people of Judah began to complain, “The workers are getting tired, and there is so much rubble to be moved. We will never be able to build the wall by ourselves.”We may feel tired because there is too much work and the job seems too big.2 Corinthians 11:27I [the apostle Paul] have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.Tiredness can result from a constant lack of necessities.1 Samuel 14:24Now the men of Israel were pressed to exhaustion that day, because Saul had placed them under an oath, saying, “Let a curse fall on anyone who eats before evening—before I have full revenge on my enemies.” So no one ate anything all day.We may be tired because we are not eating well.Proverbs 23:4-5Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit. In the blink of an eye wealth disappears, for it will sprout wings and fly away like an eagle.Sometimes we are tired because we don’t rest in God’s provision for us.Job 7:3-11“I, too, have been assigned months of futility, long and weary nights of misery. Lying in bed, I think, ‘When will it be morning?’ But the night drags on, and I toss till dawn. My body is covered with maggots and scabs. My skin breaks open, oozing with pus. “My days fly faster than a weaver’s shuttle. They end without hope. O God, remember that my life is but a breath, and I will never again feel happiness. You see me now, but not for long. You will look for me, but I will be gone. Just as a cloud dissipates and vanishes, those who die will not come back. They are gone forever from their home—never to be seen again. I cannot keep from speaking. I must express my anguish. My bitter soul must complain.”Matthew 9:20-21Just then a woman who had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding came up behind him. She touched the fringe of his robe, for she thought, “If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.”Weariness can be the result of a chronic illness—many people suffer this way.John 4:6Jacob’s well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime.We may be tired from physical exertion.2 Corinthians 5:2We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing.Eventually, many of us become tired because of the aging process. As we grow older and face the limitations of our present bodies, we grow weary and long for the new bodies we will receive at the resurrection.Ecclesiastes 12:12My child, let me give you some further advice: Be careful, for writing books is endless, and much study wears you out.We can grow tired due to mental exertion and long-term projects.Psalm 40:2He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.We may be tired because we are depressed or discouraged.Psalm 127:2It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.Matthew 11:28Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”Always being tired may mean we are trying to do too much. It may be God’s way of telling us to slow down.Psalm 31:10I am dying from grief; my years are shortened by sadness. Sin has drained my strength; I am wasting away from within.Luke 22:45At last he stood up again and returned to the disciples, only to find them asleep, exhausted from grief.We may be tired because grief has drained our strength.

Question 2

What can help me when I grow tired?

Accepted Answer

Isaiah 40:29-31He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.Habakkuk 3:19The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights.Ephesians 6:10Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.When we are weary, we can tap into God’s power and strength to resist temptation and avoid danger. The One who created us and sustains us is able to empower us in every challenge.Hebrews 12:3, 12Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. . . . So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees.When we are most tempted to give up, it helps to remember the endurance of Jesus Christ. Though fully divine, Jesus was also fully human. At times he felt hungry, sad, and tired. He looked to his Father for strength and found the power for his every need. That same power is available to us if we seek it.2 Samuel 17:28-29They brought sleeping mats, cooking pots, serving bowls, wheat and barley, flour and roasted grain, beans, lentils, honey, butter, sheep, goats, and cheese for David and those who were with him. For they said, “You must all be very hungry and tired and thirsty after your long march through the wilderness.”1 Kings 19:5-8Then he [Elijah] lay down and slept under the broom tree. But as he was sleeping, an angel touched him and told him, “Get up and eat!” He looked around and there beside his head was some bread baked on hot stones and a jar of water! So he ate and drank and lay down again. Then the angel of the Lord came again and touched him and said, “Get up and eat some more, or the journey ahead will be too much for you.” So he got up and ate and drank, and the food gave him enough strength to travel forty days and forty nights to Mount Sinai, the mountain of God.Our bodies need exercise, rest, and nutritious foods to overcome weariness. Poor nutrition and bad health habits invite burnout.Psalm 68:35God is awesome in his sanctuary. The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God!Isaiah 41:10“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”Jeremiah 31:25“For I [the Lord] have given rest to the weary and joy to the sorrowing.”Matthew 11:28Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”2 Corinthians 12:9Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.God will give us rest and renewed strength when we grow weary. When we come to him in praise, he refreshes our hearts. When we come to him in prayer, he refreshes our souls. When we come to him in solitude, he refreshes our bodies. When we come to him in need, he refreshes our minds. When we come to him with thankfulness, he refreshes our perspective. Coming to God in prayer releases the burdens of our lives and draws upon God’s power, the ultimate source of our strength.

Question 3

What are the risks of being overly tired?

Accepted Answer

Galatians 6:9So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.Being tired makes us more susceptible to discouragement, temptation, and sin, and causes us to lose hope that things will change in the future.Job 10:1“I am disgusted with my life. Let me complain freely. My bitter soul must complain.”Being tired can cause us to say things we may later regret.Proverbs 30:1-2I am weary, O God; I am weary and worn out, O God. I am too stupid to be human, and I lack common sense.Being tired can cause us to lose perspective. When we are weary, it is not a good time to make an important decision.2 Samuel 17:1-2Now Ahithophel urged Absalom, “Let me choose 12,000 men to start out after David tonight. I will catch up with him while he is weary and discouraged. He and his troops will panic, and everyone will run away. Then I will kill only the king,”Nehemiah 4:10-11Then the people of Judah began to complain, “The workers are getting tired, and there is so much rubble to be moved. We will never be able to build the wall by ourselves.” Meanwhile, our enemies were saying, “Before they know what’s happening, we will swoop down on them and kill them and end their work.”Weariness makes us vulnerable to our enemies. When our guard is down, it is easier for them to attack.

Question 4

Does my tiredness disappoint God?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 103:13-17The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust. Our days on earth are like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and die. The wind blows, and we are gone—as though we had never been here. But the love of the Lord remains forever with those who fear him.God made us flesh and blood human beings. He loves us as we are, even when we are too weary to keep going. Like a tender parent who carries a sleeping child to bed, so God cares for us when we are exhausted.Isaiah 41:10“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”Matthew 11:28Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”2 Corinthians 12:9Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.Our weariness can be an opportunity to experience God’s faithfulness. In fact, some of the greatest spiritual lessons come from watching God work when there is nothing else we can do.