What can I expect from God when I’m overcome by weariness?

Psalm 63:1O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water.

You are in the same place as the psalmist who expressed this prayer. Your weariness is also an opportunity to turn to God for help and support.

Psalm 119:28I weep with sorrow; encourage me by your word.

Sorrow in this verse is related to weariness. God’s word can be a source of special comfort and encouragement when we find ourselves at the low ebb of our resources.

Isaiah 40:28-31Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He 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.

In your weariness you can turn to One who is never weary. Note that the Lord understands, gives strength, and upholds those who trust in him.

Matthew 11:28Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”

Take Jesus at his word and come to him, directing your words, thoughts, and life toward him in your weariness. He will give you rest.

Galatians 6:9Let’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.

Weariness always includes the temptation to give up. And if we are doing good, that temptation often comes shortly before we reap blessings. We miss what God has in store if we let our weariness persuade us that what we are doing just isn’t worth it.

Hebrews 12:1-3Since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.

When we are tempted to give up, we need to stop thinking about the challenges we face and instead think about what Jesus endured for us. We should consider the example he set, asking him to supply the endurance we lack in order to stay in the race.

Revelation 2:1-4“Write this letter to the angel of the church in Ephesus. This is the message from the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand, the one who walks among the seven gold lampstands: “I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don’t tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars. You have patiently suffered for me without quitting. But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first!”

Jesus earnestly confronted the church in Ephesus while complimenting them on their record of faithfulness. The phrase “without quitting” (2:3) can also be translated “without growing weary.” Yet this church no longer loves Jesus or one another as they once did. God wants us to aim at more than just weary coping; our target should be loving God and our neighbor with everything we’ve got, even when we don’t have much left.