When Your Strength Is Gone

"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."  Isaiah 40:31 (KJV) 

Having Chronic Fatigue Syndrome for many years being exhausted has seemed a way of life. On top of the CFS my other health issues have also weighed me down with fatigue. 

I sometimes think of it as running on a battery like a laptop or a phone. You use it until the battery power gets low then you have to give it time to recharge. We also need time and space to recharge. 

Recently I found my "battery" extremely low and feeling I was about to crash. Over the years I have learned that I need time to recharge my soul and spirit as well as give my body lots of rest. Dragging through life with a low battery is not an optimal way to live. 

Good music, a book, maybe a good movie or TV show, certainly time outdoors looking at God's creation helps to recharge my soul. Reading God's word and listening to good preaching and teaching recharges my spirit. Simply lying down and taking a nap or just being in a quiet room and restful environment can help to restore strength to my body. 

Even Jesus when He was on this earth needed time to rest and restore Himself. And He knew His disciples also needed to take time to be refreshed and renewed. 

Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Mark 6:31 (NIV) 

We also need time with Jesus to be restored and renewed. When we pray and listen for His guidance during prayer, when we let go of the clutter in our minds and the anxiety of our lives, when we turn our eyes completely upon Him—then we are refreshed. Through Jesus strength and power returns to our weary lives. 

Every day there are things that sap our strength, and some of you, like myself, begin the day with little strength to begin with. Everyone needs rest and to be renewed, and those of us with a myriad of illnesses and afflictions need even more restoration to live day by day. 

We may not be able to do much about the afflictions that sap our strength, but we can energize our spirit and restore our soul with the many blessings God brings our way. We can rest our bodies as we must. And find a renewed purpose and drive as our Lord empowers us with His word and presence through the Holy Spirit. 

Prayer: Lord thank You for giving us strength when we are weak, for giving us power when we have none. Thank You for upholding us when we cannot even stand. Bless You Lord. Amen. 

Karlton Douglas  

Copyright 2017