Hey friend – thanks for stopping by! This blog post is part of a series I’ve titled “Letters to the Lies”. Sometimes I find myself burdened by the untruthful thoughts that pop into my head and my heart, and I forget that we can directly combat such lies with the timeless, powerful, clarifying word of God. While these verses are fire on their own, there is so much incredible context surrounding each one, and I highly recommend doing a deeper dive to further understand just how amazing the love story of the Bible is. My prayer is that these morsels of scripture speak infinitely louder to you than any other voice (my own included), and that you are encouraged and rejuvenated by truth. Enjoy!
– Raven-Deneice
Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you. -Psalms 116:7
Dear Exhaustion,
I hope this letter finds you well. I’m writing this letter as a formal resignation from your love. I know we’ve had a complicated past. You’ve always been there for me after a long day. I’ve chronically leaned on you as a litmus test for whether I was working hard enough, doing enough, being enough. I know you like me best when I’m out of energy and completely spent, even though I feel least like myself that way. You’re never satisfied with me, it seems. For so long, I thought what we had was what I wanted. But I know better now. You’ve taken advantage of me. The more I have poured out, the more you have demanded from me. You’re never satisfied, even after a full day of activities. Sometimes you’re the loudest when I’m busiest with tasks that don’t pull me closer to the person I know God has called me to be. Sometimes you’re so present, I can’t even hear the Lord calling me to rest.
Exhaustion, the truth is you’ve been lying to me. But it stops here. I won’t succumb to your schemes because I am armed with truth, truth which reminds me that when I am weary and burdened, God will give me rest. I can take His yoke and learn from Him, because he is lowly and humble in heart, and I will find rest for my soul (Matthew 11:28-29).
When you, Exhaustion, make me feel like my light will be burned out for good, I can remember that “He will not break a bruised reed, and He will not put out a smoldering wick” (Isaiah 42:3).
He promises to recharge me with Himself, promising “I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint” (Jeremiah 31:25).
When I’m entering a season that I know will be even busier than the last, I don’t need to look forward to seeing you, Exhaustion. God provided for the Israelites with His power, and I know He will do the same for me: “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest” (Exodus 33:14).
So you see, Exhaustion, you and I cannot go on like this. It’s not so much that I’m never tired anymore; I’m just tired of you. You make me feel like I have nothing left, but I walk with the Lord, who gives abundant rest to His children. I think it’s for the best that we end things. I am all too excited to rest and delight in the fact that I don’t have to strive for acceptance or approval. I can rejoice because Jesus Christ, a perfect man, died a horrific death and rose from the grave victorious, and because of that, I don’t need to burn out. I can’t work harder to make the Lord love me more because He already loves me (and all His creation) more than I could fathom. “Truly my soul find rest in God; my salvation comes from Him” (Psalm 62:1). I am enough because He is enough, and my only rational response to that is to worship by resting in His love.
I hope you can appreciate where I’m coming from and why we’ll be parting ways. Best of luck!
In Christ ,
Raven-Deneice
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power to the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 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 40:29-31
Peanut Butter Faith 