Are You Tired? What’s the Answer?
I created drafts for each prompt in the 28 Prompt Challenge I am doing. I sort of chuckled when I opened it today to see the prompt is tired.
I chuckled for 2 reasons.
1. I’m tired! My toddler has been getting up around 5 and with 3 teens I like to talk to I don’t often make it to bed before 11. Add in the annoying new trend of waking up in the night to go to the bathroom… yep, I’m tired.
2. Just yesterday I was going through my quiet time journal collecting words of encouragement from the Lord to send out in my monthly newsletter. (Go here if you’d like to be included, you’ll get a free gift, too)
2 of the entries started, “You’re tired.”
The Lord recognizes I’m tired. The sweet thing is He isn’t condemning for being tired. Just stating the fact.
I have a weird issue with being tired. Like it’s a weakness or something. Somehow I shouldn’t need sleep if there are other things to do.
Completely crazy. Logically I will tell you I need at least 8 hours of sleep. I will tell you I’m tired. However, as I’ve already confessed I am not living in line with that truth.
Jesus got tired. Sometimes He took a nap. Sometimes He stayed up all night praying. He always did what the Father said to do.
I’m human and I will be tired. The key is doing what the Father says to do.
A couple of mornings recently the wake-up time has been 5:33. I decided to look for verses with that reference.
33 Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.
Deuteronomy 5:33 New International Version (NIV)
I needed this reminder. God is not condemning me for being tired. He is also not calling me to be tired, especially not emotionally. See, I’m most tired from carrying things He didn’t give me to carry. He has said how many hours a week I need to work. And I continue to do more. More is better, right? Not when it’s disobeying.
I’m choosing, again and again, to rest in His instruction and provision. I’m so thankful He is never tired and never tired of me!
Are you tired? What is God’s solution for you?
This is my 19th post in a writing challenge by Janis Cox. She has given 28 prompts. I have committed (being accountable to myself here!) to write for 15 minutes a day on one of her prompts (this one was tired). I then have 15 minutes to polish and post so there’s not much polishing. As I said in my first post of this challenge it’s getting me back to writing instead of producing. Still, I hope my thoughts are a blessing and you’ll keep reading.
This story is published in Koinonia — stories to encourage, entertain, and empower you in your faith, food, fitness, family and fun.
