Some days you just feel tired. You know, that deep to the bones tired that doesn’t go away with a nap or caffeine. Tired in every aspect of the word – emotionally, physically, mentally.
I know we all experience this weariness because we all live in the same world. We may have different backgrounds, lifestyles, influences, etc., but we’re all exposed to the heaviness this world offers.
Days can be hard and so draining, and I know I personally struggle with having the energy and positive mindset to continually keep my feet moving forward.
If you’ve experienced this or are currently experiencing this, you’re not alone. Not at all. There’s good news for us all. We can look ahead with hope. There truly are better days ahead.
You’re Not Actually Broken
There’s an annoying false narrative in our society that if you’re sensitive, emotional, struggle with anxiety or have really any struggles at all, that you’re somehow “broken.” We’re told that maybe medicine or therapy or just “sucking it up” will make our problems disappear. The problem is that those are all temporary fixes and not eternal solutions.
I, for one, have felt like being vulnerable and having struggles are things that make me weak. That has shaped my thoughts and feelings for most of my life, and probably many of you as well. Well, friends, that’s a lie that the enemy has planted in our ears for way too long. He loves to not only knock us down, but works really hard to keep us there.
God, however, doesn’t want us to feel broken. He is the ultimate Healer and Restorer and helps us any time we lean on Him. His strength is in abundant supply and all we’re required to do is trust in Him. When we put our faith in Christ we are completely forgiven, transformed and made “new.” As new creations, we can never be broken, because our Creator is perfect and made us in His very own perfect image.
“Who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”
Philippians 3:21
Stop Listening to the World
It deeply saddens me when my friends and family are so scared and concerned at what the world is telling them. Yes, we have a lot of ugly and evil things taking place around us, and yes we should be moved somehow by those things. But, it shouldn’t be fear leading us. Instead, we should feel confident and secure in Him and be His hands and feet to this broken world around us.
Remember, we’re not broken when we’re saved in Him. Yes, imperfect, but not broken. It should be a motivation for us to help others be restored in Christ as well. Jesus’ love and forgiveness is for all and it’s our call as His followers to share that with the world.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:19-20
Jesus spoke to the disciples and gave them this clear message. He gives us the same message today. We face battles and go through struggles, but we are never alone in our challenges. Jesus ended by saying that He would be “with us always, to the end of the age.” He never leaves us and through Him, we can do anything.
The voice of God must ring out louder than any other voice we’re listening to. Turn off the news. Stop scrolling through social media so much. Quit asking the world to define us.
We become more and more weary when listening to the world, because we can never measure up to what the world wants from us. God, however, sees us, knows us completely and calls us His child despite anything we’ve ever done. We are His, and His voice is the only one that really matters.
Time to Fuel Up
I ran a half-marathon years ago and I remember going through the training for it. It was hard and took extreme dedication. I had to be patient and build up my stamina, mile by mile. My schedule had to leave time for long runs. It was important to make sure I fueled by body with good food and plenty of water. It required me to be “all in” if I was ever going to successfully complete that 13.1 mile race.
What I learned from that experience was that I could do what I set my mind and energy to. I felt good when I completed that race. Not because my time was impressive or that I won any special prize besides a completion medal. It was because I did what I set out to do. What I prioritized and intentionally trained for.
I want to look back at my life and feel the same way about completing the race God has set before me. His call for me to train, run with endurance and fuel my heart and mind with the truth of His Word. If I want to be more like Him, I must dedicate more time to know Him deeply. If I want to make an impact on this world, I must dedicate myself to fulfilling His call on my life. If I want to look ahead with hope and renewed energy, I must seek Him and dwell in His presence daily.
“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.”
Psalm 91:1
It’s a choice we must each make day after day. Do we trudge on with that heavy, dull ache the world leaves us with or instead, pursue God and feel joy and hope in Him even in times of darkness.
Therapy is great (I recently signed up for my own sessions), turning to our friends and family for support definitely helps, but nothing we do or search for in the world will ever compare to simply turning to God. We must stop and fuel up on His Word each and every day in order to have clarity and an eternal perspective.
“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
2 Corinthians 4:18
There are Always Better Days Ahead
Today may feel yucky and overwhelming. Tomorrow and many other days may too, but we can keep looking ahead with the hope of Christ in view. It’s never too out of reach, even if it seems like it. Today is not what we’re living for, especially in this dark world. We’re living for the better days ahead. The days of eternal glory with our Creator and Father.
We have that promise and that bright future to look forward to. Let’s not keep it to ourselves. Let’s confidently and boldly share it with others so they too can look ahead with hope. We can help others, with the power of God, to not fear the unknowns and feel trapped in their shackles of sin. There is freedom everyone has access to, and we should be driven to help others find that.
Life here on earth is definitely not easy. We all know that. We’ve seen so many ugly things, especially lately, that it can weigh us down and make us question over and over. We have to turn to God. In those moments and every other in between.
We must turn to His Word as refreshment for our cracked and bruised hearts. We must pray and ask for confident faith when we feel afraid. We must turn off all other noises around us and simply listen for the voice of God to speak.
“For he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Today, if only you would hear his voice.”
Psalm 95:7
Proving our points and arguing about worldly issues is not what God is calling us to do. He is calling us to prove we are followers of Him. We do that by shining His light, treating others with love and grace, having faith and joy even in uncertain times and sharing the hope of His salvation.
There are truly better days ahead for us when we place our hope in the Lord. We have an eternal future locked in for us and a perfect heavenly home to dwell in after we leave this broken one. Let’s have bold confidence in that, share it with others and live so radically different than the world. We aren’t made for this world. We’re just simply visitors passing through with a mission to draw others to heaven with us.