The Privileged Life: Finding Hope in the Midst of a Bone-Weary Day
“But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)
How do you describe being bone-tired? So fatigued you can hardly stand, much less put one foot in front of the other?
The British have a good word for it—“knackered.” When they’re completely grieved or upset as well, they say they’re “just gutted.”
COVID has hit us all like that. We’re both “knackered” and “gutted” by its impact on our health, families, and work. In the United States, we’re finding a bit of relief in the slight decline in number of cases/deaths, but the virus is still rampant in some other countries. The pandemic is a long-haul problem with long-term effects, stretching us all thin.
How do you cope with bone-crushing weariness? When your tank is on empty? Sure, you can try to get more sleep, eat healthy, and practice stress-reducing measures. But when fatigue is accompanied by overwhelming despair, there’s only one effective treatment—hope.
True hope is not a feeling. It is the intentional placement of our trust in God alone. It requires an act of faith to place all of our needs, worries, physical problems, fears, and struggles in His hands.
How do you find this hope?
- Pray—ask God to guide, protect, and energize you.
- Read His word—find His promises in Scripture to renew your strength.
- Wait on Him—have patience in God’s timing and His provisions.
- Join hands—meet in fellowship with others who encourage you.
- Step out in faith—trust that God is good and has a purpose, even in the face of evil, suffering, and death.
When you’re tempted to quit—especially when others criticize you or the news is bad—remember that you are not alone. Jesus Christ Himself has promised to be with you as you invite His presence into your life.
I heard recently somewhere that if we trust in God, we also have to trust in His timing. That’s a hard task when the years stretch out without answers to our prayers. But placing our faith in His promises is essential for perseverance through adversity.
May you find lasting hope, peace, and ultimately joy in resting in Jesus. He offers a harvest of abundant life in following Him. His word says that waiting on Him will renew your strength, allowing you to “mount up on wings like eagles.” He is faithful to hold you in the palm of His hands.
Lord, we’re all so tired—how wonderful to remember You have promised us rest. You are our only hope…we turn to You for comfort and relief. When our strength fails, help us to wait on You and trust in Your plans for us. Give us grace to share Your hope with others. In Your blessed name, Amen.
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© Copyright 2021 Nancy C. Williams, Lightbourne Creative (text and photography)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
