Tired?

Aren't you getting tired of people complaining about how tired they are? Look around you today, and you're likely to see people who feel exhausted. According to a recent study conducted by the University of Maryland, 29 percent of Americans say they always feel tired, and 45 percent say they have felt a great deal or moderate amounts of stress in the past two weeks. Ironically, the same study found that the average amount of leisure time has increased from 34 to 40 hours per week since 1965. In an age of unprecedented technology and convenience, why are we so tired?

A recent Gallup Poll yielded some surprising insights. What's the number one cause of stress? Not problems with work. Not family. Not illnesses or financial hardships. According to the poll, "incongruent values" cause the most stress—that is, trying to believe strongly in a moral principle or ideal, while living the opposite. For example, it creates stress when someone says he highly values his family but doesn't spend much time at home; or when a person claims to believe in prayer but seldom talks with the Father. Some of our weariness comes from trying to live up to our own inconsistencies and failures.

Meanwhile, even sincere efforts to do good can leave us fatigued. It's hard to row against the powerful currents of culture. Are you tired of political scandals, endless advertisements, and unfunny TV shows that assault audiences with innuendo and laziness? Are you tired of sex glamorized and morals mocked? Are you tired of petty bickering and spiritual apathy? Are you weary of churches' lackadaisical, business-as-usual attitudes that make faith appear irrelevant?

Though always meaningful, Christian service isn't always fun; and sometimes it's downright exhausting—especially when your efforts seem unnoticed, unappreciated, or unproductive.

One time Moses' responsibilities felt so oppressive that he told the Lord, "I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me" (Numbers 11:14). Elijah ran to escape Jezebel's wrath, and collapsed under a tree in the desert praying, "I have had enough, Lord" (1 Kings 19:4). Jeremiah complained that his heart felt faint within him (Jeremiah 8:18–22). Even Jesus got tired (John 4:6) and felt distressed over stubborn hearts (Mark 3:1–6).

Psalm 42:1 says, "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God." What kind of scene does this bring to your mind? Do you picture a vigorous, wide-eyed deer striding gracefully beside a gentle brook? Look closer. This deer is worn out, exhausted, panting for water. That's how desperately the psalmist "thirsts for God, for the living God" (Psalm 42:2).

Weariness must not push us away from God; it should pull us toward him for the refreshment only he can provide. "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. . . . Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength" (Isaiah 40:29, 31). Jesus beckons, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).

Yes, we may grow tired as we serve the Lord. But there are plenty of reasons to keep going. God isn't quitting on you. Others are counting on you. Jesus is walking with you. Rewards are waiting for you. "Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up" (Galatians 6:9).

The Lord calls us to do eternally significant work while he prepares us a place of perfect rest.

Come to think of it, I'm not all that tired after all. How about you?