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Wait

             but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:31)

 

            Tonight, I need this passage to be true. Yes, “tonight.” None of the verses or passages I’ve looked at since this morning have inspired me, and it’s almost time for me to work on my story. I had a short but very long day at work because I’m tired. I’m not the only one. I’ve heard several complaints. I’ve folded more than 1250 boxes since last Monday, and it wasn’t because there wasn’t anything to do. We’ve gone through lots of boxes. I’m weary.

            I read through several translations and paraphrases of this verse. In some (like the NIV above), it sounds as if the one who hopes in the Lord will do what is necessary to regain their strength. In others, it seems more as if their strength will be renewed by God. In some, they have to hope in the Lord. In others, they have to wait for the Lord to act. I suspect the reality is that in both cases, it’s both. We have to act, and God has to act. We have to wait and hope.

            One of the hard things about today is that yesterday was wonderfully productive. This week has been productive. But that productivity has prices. One is weariness. Another is the letdown when the next day doesn’t match or exceed the productive day. Perhaps that’s something we should note about weariness. It’s not just tiredness. There’s a sense of disappointment. We’re not living up to our expectations. Trying harder just isn’t doing it. Sleep doesn’t really fix it. I don’t find anything online that agrees with me but I suspect that weariness, especially prolonged weariness, is a symptom of burnout unless one learns to wait.

            According to one source, “burnout” involves spinning your tires and going nowhere – but creating the sort of friction that can destroy those tires. That’s sort of what happens if we don’t wait. If we keep trying to do everything without waiting for God, we’re spinning our wheels. I didn’t invent the metaphor, but it works.  If we do it hard enough or for long enough, we’ll be unable to move because our tires will be tattered. And then we’ll have no choice but to wait until God gives us the mental and physical health we have lost.

            I suspect it’s better if we wait by choice than by necessity.

 

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