Friday Fight 124: Exhausted By or Exhausted All?

Every Friday, when I wake and pray, God places something on my heart to help me fight darkness beginning in our minds. Today is FF124.

How many of us have worked diligently in an area of our lives and feel things will never be any different than they are right now? It could be a relationship at work, finances, problems with your significant other, or a business venture going nowhere. Our expectations may be unrealistic, or our communication is lacking, but whatever the case, how do we combat this exhaustive feeling?

Exhausted By or Exhausted All?

How often have we struggled with something and thought, "Well, I have done everything I can do." But have we actually exhausted all our options? I recently talked to a friend about being frustrated with an exhausting relationship. Miscommunication and other factors play a crucial role in their instability, but her response prompted the writing of this post. Yes, we can feel exhausted by anything we are struggling with, but have we completely exhausted all our options to change that area of chaos with the Word of God? We think we have exhausted every option because we are exhausted. This friend no longer feels the love, dedication, and work of placing the needs of the other first. She has tried many things to rebuild a healthy relationship but was adamant that she could not give up and dismantle her family until they found a church to attend together. What if more struggling marriages or relationships attempted this surrender to God's power? Exhausting all options and laying down those destructive and chaotic areas at the altar, humbling ourselves in the process. Finding a church as a family was her choice in hopes of giving her exhaustion to God and exhaust every avenue until they found restoration as a family. What part of our lives is draining us, and what other options have we not considered before accepting defeat?

Another area of life that is exhausting to navigate is unstable finances. But again, we must ask ourselves, have we exhausted all possibilities in stabilizing our finances, or are we solely focused on the exhaustion of being broke? How much thought have we given to the fact that everything we have is because of God? Gambling, shopping, or even a short getaway may offer some relief, but not the best choice if we are financially exhausted. Instead, we can turn our attention to God. If we have tried everything to fix our financial problems and nothing seems to work, seeking God and doing what He asks of us, like tithing, may shift our outcomes. We display our trust and faith in God when we give back some of what He has given us, knowing He will care for all our needs.

Relationships and finances are two areas of life that when struggling, make us feel like we are constantly treading water. We always feel like we need rest or rescue. Matthew 11:28 says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Jesus incited weary people to find His peace and grace in salvation. Instead of constantly giving everything we have while still feeling broken, let's lay our problems down at the throne of God first. He will bless and keep us when we place Him first.

Exhausting all options could be things like a permanent church change, increased prayer, reading the Word, or praying scripture over the things draining us. Once we feel like all we do is struggle, our mindset will be something Satan plays upon to convince us to give up. Don't allow struggles and chaos to impact you to the point of exhaustion. Instead, give it to God and watch Him work. Follow His lead, and He will guide us in the direction we should go. He alone will give us rest.

Pastor Shannon

New Life Calvert