Are you Stressed out?
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” (Psalm 73:26, ESV)
Alyssa J. Howard wrote on her web site the following words: “Have you ever been emotionally drained or tired? As the mom of two preschoolers, I’ve been there. (And if I’m being honest, the phrase “emotionally tired” is often a serious understatement!) Going to God for strength is something I need to do on a daily basis. But if I have learned anything, it’s that He is ALWAYS faithful! I am so thankful to serve a God who will exchange my weaknesses for His strength.” (from Aug 17, 2016)
I am sure you can commiserate with her sentiment. You will find yourself emotionally drained at various points in your life. It may occur when you are cramming for a test at school. That kind of tiredness might settle upon your soul when you are up for the fourth time in one night with a very sick child. That emotional weakness might settle into your muscles and joints as you deal for too long with an accident or traumatic event. Planning a wedding? Moving? Having a child? Dealing with COVID-19 stay at home orders? Home-schooling? Putting up with a co-worker who is belligerent or demeaning? There are thousands of times in your life when you will endure some kind of challenge that will leave you emotionally bled out.
What many people do not realize is that a period of tiredness or an emotionally trying time WILL affect your spiritual life. It will tax your soul. To compensate with the stress and baggage and lack of sleep and everything else during trying times, humans use coping mechanisms. Some of those coping mechanisms are not healthy like emotional eating and binge-watching tv for days. Some coping mechanisms are dangerous like illicit drug use and risk-taking behaviors. Emotionally taxing times may cause you to overspend or make rash decisions. They may push you to lash out or become spiteful. Sadly, most Christians do not utilize godly methods for coping. These include increased prayer time, seeking the prayers of others, leaning on a faithful friend, shedding tears in your conversations with God, and meditating on scripture. There are hundreds and hundreds of ways you can lean on God when life becomes overwhelming. Do you know which of these ways work best for you?
“According to a Greek legend, in ancient Athens a man noticed the great storyteller Aesop playing childish games with some little boys. He laughed and jeered at Aesop, asking him why he wasted his time in such frivolous activity. Aesop responded by picking up a bow, loosening its string, and placing it on the ground. Then he said to the critical Athenian, “Now, answer the riddle, if you can. Tell us what the unstrung bow implies.”
The man looked at it for several moments but had no idea what point Aesop was trying to make. Aesop explained, “If you keep a bow always bent, it will break eventually; but if you let it go slack, it will be more fit for use when you want it.” (“Our Daily Bread”, June 6, 1994)
If you feel pulled taught with stress and pressures and worry and fear and inner-turmoil for too long, you will break. Like the bow in Aesop’s parable, your heart and soul and mind need to relax, especially at crucial times. You need to stop playing God, asking a thousand “what-ifs”, and playing through scenarios in your head over and over ad nauseum! To be faithful, you must learn that it’s OK to let God run the universe while your soul heals up and your mind calms down!
In the scripture for today, the writer Asaph is speaking of emotional and physical exhaustion. He wrote about the possibility of how “flesh and heart may fail”. This is an apt description of the tiredness that can grip you. It is indicative of a person who is being pushed too far. However, Asaph did not leave you without hope in these situations. He gave you a remedy. In the last half of the verse, Asaph clarified that when one is faltering and failing, “God is the strength of my heart and portion forever” (Psalm 73:26). When emotionally drained and weak, it is the perfect time to rest on the strength of God.
How do you rest your heart and soul in the strength of God?
First, let God run the universe! Don’t try to fix everything. Don’t worry about what you can’t do. Don’t pine away with scenarios running amok in your mind. For some things, you have to let God have control. You need to give God the authority HE deserves in your life. You need to step back from your desire to play judge and jury, to order everything around you, to be in control. So often, we think we can control things that we cannot. We think we can force another person to do the right thing or make the right decision or change for the good. You can’t fix everything in life. In fact, there are few things in life you can even influence perfectly. God is in control; you are not.
Since God is “the strength of the heart” according to Asaph, you need to reconnect with God. Spend more time in prayer. If your mind is so jumbled that you cannot concentrate enough to pray, go for a walk and chat with God along the way. Go to a quiet place and meditate on God’s greatness and love for you. Visit with a person who can help you spiritually heal. Don’t hide your pain; release it in faithful ways. Instead of going to a spa, go to a spiritual retreat with leaders who know God. If your mind is tired, do something physically healthy like exercise your body. While doing that, open your mind and heart to godly thoughts. Pull back from the things that cause stress and spend that time reading a good book of meditations or force yourself to sit in a chair and talk with God! Find ways to reconnect with Jesus! Write a poem. Paint a picture of Jesus loving you. Find a church that is open and just sit in a pew in quiet reflection for an hour or two! Let Jesus have your frustrations and fears.
Finally, be honest with yourself. Is there something in you that is making the situation worse? Are you too pushy? Do you allow others manipulate you? Do you have depression? Are there symptoms? Do you need to speak with a doctor? Do you need to ask a pastor for guidance? Some have more drama in life because of the lies they tell themselves or the wrong attitudes they bring to the table daily. Are you part of the problem? How might God humble you, show you the truth, or heal you?
As I end this meditation, I want you to realize that some of the VERY BEST insights in the spiritual life come when a person is in the deepest of valleys. In the midst of an emotional turmoil might be the perfect time for God to reach deep into your soul with a message HE’s been hoping you perceive! Don’t get down about your emotional or physical weakness, celebrate God’s amazing strength and overwhelming love!
Alyssa J. Howard wrote on her web site the following words: “Have you ever been emotionally drained or tired? As the mom of two preschoolers, I’ve been there. (And if I’m being honest, the phrase “emotionally tired” is often a serious understatement!) Going to God for strength is something I need to do on a daily basis. But if I have learned anything, it’s that He is ALWAYS faithful! I am so thankful to serve a God who will exchange my weaknesses for His strength.” (from Aug 17, 2016)
I am sure you can commiserate with her sentiment. You will find yourself emotionally drained at various points in your life. It may occur when you are cramming for a test at school. That kind of tiredness might settle upon your soul when you are up for the fourth time in one night with a very sick child. That emotional weakness might settle into your muscles and joints as you deal for too long with an accident or traumatic event. Planning a wedding? Moving? Having a child? Dealing with COVID-19 stay at home orders? Home-schooling? Putting up with a co-worker who is belligerent or demeaning? There are thousands of times in your life when you will endure some kind of challenge that will leave you emotionally bled out.
What many people do not realize is that a period of tiredness or an emotionally trying time WILL affect your spiritual life. It will tax your soul. To compensate with the stress and baggage and lack of sleep and everything else during trying times, humans use coping mechanisms. Some of those coping mechanisms are not healthy like emotional eating and binge-watching tv for days. Some coping mechanisms are dangerous like illicit drug use and risk-taking behaviors. Emotionally taxing times may cause you to overspend or make rash decisions. They may push you to lash out or become spiteful. Sadly, most Christians do not utilize godly methods for coping. These include increased prayer time, seeking the prayers of others, leaning on a faithful friend, shedding tears in your conversations with God, and meditating on scripture. There are hundreds and hundreds of ways you can lean on God when life becomes overwhelming. Do you know which of these ways work best for you?
“According to a Greek legend, in ancient Athens a man noticed the great storyteller Aesop playing childish games with some little boys. He laughed and jeered at Aesop, asking him why he wasted his time in such frivolous activity. Aesop responded by picking up a bow, loosening its string, and placing it on the ground. Then he said to the critical Athenian, “Now, answer the riddle, if you can. Tell us what the unstrung bow implies.”
The man looked at it for several moments but had no idea what point Aesop was trying to make. Aesop explained, “If you keep a bow always bent, it will break eventually; but if you let it go slack, it will be more fit for use when you want it.” (“Our Daily Bread”, June 6, 1994)
If you feel pulled taught with stress and pressures and worry and fear and inner-turmoil for too long, you will break. Like the bow in Aesop’s parable, your heart and soul and mind need to relax, especially at crucial times. You need to stop playing God, asking a thousand “what-ifs”, and playing through scenarios in your head over and over ad nauseum! To be faithful, you must learn that it’s OK to let God run the universe while your soul heals up and your mind calms down!
In the scripture for today, the writer Asaph is speaking of emotional and physical exhaustion. He wrote about the possibility of how “flesh and heart may fail”. This is an apt description of the tiredness that can grip you. It is indicative of a person who is being pushed too far. However, Asaph did not leave you without hope in these situations. He gave you a remedy. In the last half of the verse, Asaph clarified that when one is faltering and failing, “God is the strength of my heart and portion forever” (Psalm 73:26). When emotionally drained and weak, it is the perfect time to rest on the strength of God.
How do you rest your heart and soul in the strength of God?
First, let God run the universe! Don’t try to fix everything. Don’t worry about what you can’t do. Don’t pine away with scenarios running amok in your mind. For some things, you have to let God have control. You need to give God the authority HE deserves in your life. You need to step back from your desire to play judge and jury, to order everything around you, to be in control. So often, we think we can control things that we cannot. We think we can force another person to do the right thing or make the right decision or change for the good. You can’t fix everything in life. In fact, there are few things in life you can even influence perfectly. God is in control; you are not.
Since God is “the strength of the heart” according to Asaph, you need to reconnect with God. Spend more time in prayer. If your mind is so jumbled that you cannot concentrate enough to pray, go for a walk and chat with God along the way. Go to a quiet place and meditate on God’s greatness and love for you. Visit with a person who can help you spiritually heal. Don’t hide your pain; release it in faithful ways. Instead of going to a spa, go to a spiritual retreat with leaders who know God. If your mind is tired, do something physically healthy like exercise your body. While doing that, open your mind and heart to godly thoughts. Pull back from the things that cause stress and spend that time reading a good book of meditations or force yourself to sit in a chair and talk with God! Find ways to reconnect with Jesus! Write a poem. Paint a picture of Jesus loving you. Find a church that is open and just sit in a pew in quiet reflection for an hour or two! Let Jesus have your frustrations and fears.
Finally, be honest with yourself. Is there something in you that is making the situation worse? Are you too pushy? Do you allow others manipulate you? Do you have depression? Are there symptoms? Do you need to speak with a doctor? Do you need to ask a pastor for guidance? Some have more drama in life because of the lies they tell themselves or the wrong attitudes they bring to the table daily. Are you part of the problem? How might God humble you, show you the truth, or heal you?
As I end this meditation, I want you to realize that some of the VERY BEST insights in the spiritual life come when a person is in the deepest of valleys. In the midst of an emotional turmoil might be the perfect time for God to reach deep into your soul with a message HE’s been hoping you perceive! Don’t get down about your emotional or physical weakness, celebrate God’s amazing strength and overwhelming love!