You crawl into bed tired for the hundredth night in a row and guilt envelopes you like a blanket. Yawning, you struggle to keep your eyes open long enough to say, “I love you Lord, I’ll get it right tomorrow I promise.”

First of all, never for one minute think that you’re alone when you feel like this; we’ve all been there at one time or another. Secondly, remember that your Heavenly Father knows exactly how you feel, and has made provision and encouragement in His Word for every season of your life, including the bone weary ones like these.

Jesus himself walked this earth in human form, spending time daily with his disciples and brethren, and seeing them in all of their frailty and humanness. So it’s no surprise to him when we cry out from the depths of our exhaustion, feeling like we just can’t take another step physically or mentally. He created us and knows our every weakness, but loves us unconditionally all the same. “For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.” Psalm 103:14. (KJV)

Whenever I find myself in this place, I always draw comfort from the story of Elijah, and God’s care and providence for him at a time when he was on the run and drowning in despair. That’s right, Elijah was definitely throwing himself a pity party in I Kings 19; moping under a tree and begging for the Lord to take his life. Did God get mad? No. Did he strike Elijah down for his foolish rantings? Not at all. Instead He fed him; sending him warm bread by special delivery of one of the angels. (I always wondered who baked the bread, but that’s for another blog post, probably one labeled under Bible humor.)

The thing to note though, is that God saw Elijah’s exhaustion and discouragement and did something about it. He refueled him, and ensured that he was fed and rested enough to continue the journey before him. The basic care that the Lord showed towards Elijah, at a time when he so desperately needed it, assures me that He’ll do the same for any one of his children.

The other thing to remember is that the devil will try to guilt you into feeling even worse about the situation than you already are, it’s just what he does. “...for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.” Revelation 12:10. (KJB). Whenever I read this verse, I always imagine the devil as an old nag, whining constantly before the Lord about us until he finally gets some ear time. Remember Job? Same with us. Then he comes whispering things in our ears like: You haven’t prayed in how long? Hmm, what kind of Christian are you anyway? I wonder what the folks at church would say if they knew? You must be such a disappointment to the Lord.

Don’t get sucked into that pity party, it’s right where he wants you, with your head down so he can step on it and press you even further into the ground. If you’re down on your knees, let it be in prayer and not defeat. Self-pity leads to self doubt which messes with your head in all kinds of ways.

Instead, when holding on is all you can do, go to God’s Word and hold on to it like a lifeline. Read it, even if it’s just the one verse you can hide in your heart and meditate on throughout the day. Bind them upon your heart, so you can draw on them again and again. It will become a salve to your weary soul.