Fatigue is now becoming more common in our day and age. Work is going faster; traffic is getting heavier, and costs are becoming higher. But with all these, our energy level remains the same.
How can we even find the time to rest and relax when everything around us seems to want us to stay on the treadmill of pressure, anxiety and stress?
When exhausted and fatigued, I am reminded always of Isaiah 40:29, which says, "He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength." Though our strength may sometimes feel limited, we can always tap to God for more strength and even for restoration of our souls and bodies through rest.
Fatigue is a real enemy, but God has always been serious about saving people from burnout and dangerous exhaustion. Here are four biblical views on fatigue that will open our eyes to God's promise of rest.
1. Fatigue Is Nothing New
It can sometimes feel like God's promise of rest has changed through time. Maybe we just can't keep the Sabbath like people in the Bible used to because they didn't worry about busyness the way we do.
But if we take a look at history, people during Bible times had all the more reason to skip rest more than we do today. People would work for up to 12 hours and there were no labour laws to protect them. People in biblical times struggled with fatigue, just like us today. But God has always remained faithful in promising rest to us all.
2. Fatigue Is God's Way of Reminding Us to Trust in Him
God made us to be limited creatures that need sleep, rest and restoration because He doesn't want us to ever lose our dependence towards God. God is pleased when we rely on Him fully. He's never too busy for your needs and wants us to always remain in Him and trust in Him to fulfill our needs of provision, security and satisfaction.
3. God Promises Rest to the Fatigued
Jesus knows your exhaustion and desires to give you rest. In Matthew 11:28, He declares, "Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
When we're tired, God waits for us to come to Him freely and let Him restore us from our fatigue.
4. Fatigue Comes Even When We Work for God
Sometimes we might think that we should be exempt from exhaustion and fatigue because we're working for God anyways. But the Bible is full of people who did things for God but still got exhausted.
Moses grew tired holding his hands up for the battle (Exodus 17:12 ); Elijah felt depressed after running away from Jezebel when she attempted to assassinate him (1 Kings 19:4-14), and even Jesus got so tired He slept through a storm (Mark 4:38). Doing things for God doesn't mean we won't get tired, but it does mean that we can rely on God to sustain us as we work for His purposes.
