Three Encouragements for the Exhausted Christian

We’re tired.

I’m tired. You’re tired. The world is tired.

And as Christians, that can feel doubly exhausting. God calls us to do the stuff. We don’t want to do the stuff—or rather, we ran out of energy to do the stuff ten “stuffs” ago.

Maybe you’re thinking, “Am I a bad person that I don’t want to see my friends? That I don’t have any energy left for this important cause? That even five minutes of prayer sounds like burnout central?”

No, you’re not bad. You’re tired.

So let us give you a couple of quick encouragements.

God WANTS you to rest

This one may sound silly and obvious, but some Christians don’t know or believe it: God doesn’t delight in exhaustion and burnout. He delights when your heart is full, and that means resting.

He made the Sabbath, for goodness sake. A day of rest! (Genesis 2:2, Exodus 20:8-11) And Jesus said it was for us, not the other way around (Mark 2:27).

Don’t believe me? Reread the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 19:1-8. Roughly paraphrased, Elijah has a major victory on Mount Carmel, and his reward is to be hunted for his life. Elijah laments to God and says that he is so depressed and upset that he wants to die.

God’s answer? A nap and some food.

So he does. What does God give next? Another nap and some more food.

I almost teared up writing that. Half because I’m a silly willy, but half because it touches my heart to know God is less interested in works than he is wholeness. If our work in God’s name destroys our souls, then it’s not in God’s name.

God desires us to do his work, but he desires our rest, too. Get the rest, and you may find strength to do the work.

God has your wallet

I hate hustle culture.

Sorry, I didn’t mean that. I loathe hustle culture. Hustle culture says, “Work hard, work always.” You must always have some money-making project going. Do your day job, then sell trinkets on the side, and then write books about it to sell on the internet.

And this is why many of us are tired. I’m all for hard work, but the world tells us that our finances are all about work. The Bible tells a different story.

Don’t wear yourself out to get rich (Proverbs 23:4). Do not worry about food and clothing (Matthew 6:31-34). Elijah was fed by ravens (1 Kings 17:4). The Israelites had magic dew-food pop up out of nowhere (Exodus 16). Over and over, the Bible says that we shouldn’t overwork ourselves for money because God is our source, not us.

Let me put it this way: God will give money and resources when you are not trying to make money and resources. He will not give you rest when you are not trying to rest. If you seek money, you may lose rest. If you seek rest, God can still provide the money.

No, this is not me advocating laziness. We must work, but it must be God’s work, not man’s. Matthew 6:32-33 says God knows we have material needs, and he cares about them. If we seek God’s kingdom, he will provide our needs. It may require us to rethink what we need, but God will provide it.

So do the scary thing: quit trying to struggle to make money. Ask what God wants you to do, and let him do the rest.

God has your world

Work. School. Kid’s school. Kid’s after-school projects. Budgets. Church. Small group. Church committees. Appointments. Meetings. Yardwork. Social stuff. Housework. That thing you forgot to do yesterday. Mom calls. Boss calls. Kids call.

Life is busy.

Here’s the good news: it’s not up to us.

We don’t need to keep our worlds afloat.

You aren’t a bad friend when you can’t call that person back right away. You aren’t a bad mom when you need time away from your kids. You aren’t a bad provider when you don’t work that seventh overtime day. You won’t go bankrupt when you don’t monetize that hobby you love.

Because none of these things are in your control. They are in God’s. He had infinitely more ways to meet the needs of the world than just you.

So let me say it one more time: you have your work to do, that is true. But God has work to do, too, and his is the far bigger share. That’s why Jesus said his yoke is easy and his burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30), because he always carries the bigger load.

So rest. Close your eyes. Breathe. Laugh. Play. God is in that rest.