I’m Tired, You’re Tired, Everyone Is Tired

Jul 13, 2022

I have to be super honest - as I’m writing this devotional, I’m tired.

And for lots of “good” reasons: my family and I moved into a new house recently, our Impact team has thrown a ton of fun events, I’m still recovering from VBS, my kiddos are in camp after camp this summer, and we’re gearing up for a family vacation (hallelujah!).

Phew!

And when I’m feeling this way - stretched, worn out, pushed to my limit - one of the first things to go is my intentional time with God. Gah!

Buuuuut, I’m gonna go ahead and venture to guess I’m not alone in this.

Have you ever noticed a similar pattern in your own life? Your days seem to fly by - whether it’s because you’re in school, putting in overtime at work, or in the ever-exhausting midst of parenting young ones - and you simply crash into bed at the end of the day, hardly noticing that you haven’t taken time to read scripture or chat with God, let alone praise or worship Him in some way.

But in the first 9 verses of Psalm 63, despite his own exhaustion, we see David praising God over and over:

God—you’re my God! I can’t get enough of you!

I’ve worked up such hunger and thirst for God, traveling across dry and weary deserts.

So here I am in the place of worship, eyes open, drinking in your strength and glory.

In your generous love I am really living at last!

My lips brim praises like fountains.

I bless you every time I take a breath.

My arms wave like banners of praise to you…

It’s time to shout praises!

If I’m sleepless at midnight, I spend the hours in grateful reflection.

Because you’ve always stood up for me, I’m free to run and play.

I hold on to you for dear life, and you hold me steady as a post.

- Psalm 63:1-9 MSG

And here’s the real catch! He didn’t just write this in a typical season of tiredness - he wrote this while he was being hunted… BY HIS OWN SON!

Good grief, am I right?

If David can praise God with his words, lips, breath, arms, appetite, in his restlessness, and while literally in danger of death, maaaaaaaybe we can rethink our excuses for not worshiping God when we’re a little busy and tired.

What do you think?

When I find I’m forgetting to worship on a daily basis it’s usually because I’ve allowed myself to get caught up in my own thoughts, my own schedule, and my own busyness.

The remedy to bring me back from this sometimes inevitable self-centeredness?

The good ole’ golden rule:

“Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them.”

- Matthew 7:12 MSG

The best way I’ve found to get out of my own head and back into my much-needed spiritual rhythms with God is to look for someone else to love, to help, or to encourage. At the church we often call this being a Good Neighbor.

If you want to be overflowing with worship the way David did despite his circumstances, simply try stepping out and loving someone!

Believe me, none of us is alone in being tired or busy, in feeling anxious or worried. Or in feeling like they just can’t fit anything else into their day.

But, the solution is always God. Simply God. And to get back to Him, at times it takes putting ourselves aside and prioritizing being with, loving, and actively caring for others.

So, if like me, you’ve recently been feeling exhausted but want to get back to consistently worshiping God, check out our summer Impact events. Meeting our neighbors needs in tangible ways is a great opportunity to apply the golden rule. It will help you get out of your head and focus on what matters most. Because just like it says at the end of Psalm 63, “...[God’s] true friends spread joy.”

Hope to see you soon, friends! In the meantime (after I take a nap, heehee), let’s go spread some joy together!