FATIGUE

Philippians 4:13—I can do everything through Him Who gives me strength.

There is weariness in the kingdom of God that should evoke more than yawns. Many of God’s servants have lost their energy. Mornings of zest have become dreary sunrises. Bitterness saps the strength of the bewildered saints who feel God has abandoned them. Depression steals the first love that made spiritual life so potent. The power of God that once flowed so smoothly has been shut off at the plant of fatigue.

We cannot do everything if we make it a habit to stay up to late. The laws of nature are not set aside by the Lord Who established them. We need our rest! In the same way, our depression may be the direct result of a chemical imbalance--an illness that necessitates medical attention.

We cannot do everything on the strength of our effort. If we could why should Jesus have endured the cross, we could have earned our way into His presence!

The Apostle Paul could not do everything! Look at what he wrote in Romans 7:14-20! Wasn’t Paul fantastically used and blessed by God because he learned the spiritual secret of strength? Through Christ he could do everything God led him to do!

Spiritual strength comes THROUGH CHRIST. When we listen to the leading of the Holy Spirit and act through the power of Jesus, there is no sense of holy weariness. There is no fatigue that vomits an "I give up" acid. One cannot weary of serving God who is plugged into His Son. Beat up—yes! Worn down—certainly. But tired of serving our King—no way!

Are you fatigued? Does the thought of serving Christ emotionally exhaust you? Do you feel unworthy or unmotivated? Have you become like the listless bee that finds no flower from which to feed? Then get back to Jesus. Let Him be your strength!

Inspiration

Whenever there is the experience of fatigue or weariness or degradation, you may be certain you have done one of two things: either you have disregarded a law of nature, or you have deliberately got out of touch with God . . . There is no such thing as weariness in God’s work . . . Spiritual fatigue comes from the unconscious frittering away of God’s time. When you feel weary or are exhausted don’t ask for hot milk, but get back to God . . . Much of what is called Christian work is veneered spiritual disease.—Oswald Chambers in Not Knowing Where