Monday Morning Devotion-July 18, 2022
Just Plain Tired
Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not grow weary and give up. Galatians 6:9
A couple of years ago there was a time when I just seemed to be tired a lot. So I researched this subject of tiredness and came up with some helpful suggestions. Here they are.
How are you feeling these days? "Don't ask" ----may be your answer. If that's the case, you are probably just plain tired. What can you do about it? Good question.
While there is no one pat answer there are a variety of things that can help. Some may work for you, some may not, but in life we experiment all the time. We are constantly striving to be the best version of ourselves.
On www.healthline.com I came across some suggestions about handling tiredness.
The first one---the one I don't even want to talk about---is your diet. What you eat and when you eat. Healthline says if you have a tendency to skip meals you may not be getting the calories you need to keep your energy up. Likewise, if you have long gaps between meals it can cause your blood sugar to drop, decreasing your energy.
Then Healthline goes into eating healthy energy-boosting snacks when you start to feel sluggish. They suggest healthy options such as bananas, peanut butter, whole-grain crackers, protein bars, dried fruit and nuts.
Feeling tired can indicate a sign of vitamin deficiency. There are supplements you can take that your doctor could recommend.
Then there's sleep or lack of it-oh yeah-! Late nights can take a toll on your energy. Healthline says most adults need between seven and nine hours of sleep. OK Healthline tell that to the TV networks that control the start times of the baseball, football and basketball games. So there. I guess I pinpointed that problem, didn't I?
Then there's the overweight business. OK we are all overweight these days. 'Nuff said on that one.
Sedentary lifestyle is a possible part of the just plain tired syndrome. Physical activity can boost your energy level.
How about stress? Yeah, how about it. Chronic stress can cause headaches, muscle tension, stomach problems and fatigue. Stress takes a toll on your body's resources. Learning how to control stress (easier said than done) can help improve your energy level.
Depression contributes to tiredness. It is something that is difficult to deal with and can be a major source of your feeling tired. You could even reach a point where you just don't care what happens around you.
Some medications contribute to tiredness. High blood sugar can cause tiredness and other symptoms that a doctor would need to address if they don't improve over time.
As you see there are many different things that can cause you to feel just plain tired.
In his October 20th devotion "Overcoming Weariness" (Jesus Our Perfect Hope) Dr. Charles Stanley lays out a plan for moving past this tiredness that leaves you feeling drained and energy-less.
First, Stanley says to repent. Just talk to the Lord about the sins or a particular sin that is bugging you. Maybe there is something going on you just don't feel right about, and it is beating you down and tiring you out. Ask the Lord for help and for forgiveness. He wants to help. Seek him. As Jeremiah 29:13-14 says: You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you. He will help you get rid of whatever is wearing you out.
Stanley points out that God is a rewarder of those who seek him. Our scripture lesson today from Galatians points out that in "due time you will reap the reward" if you continue to do good in His name.
Then, Stanley repeats the encouragement found in Matthew 6:34 that we should not worry about tomorrow. We must trust God one day at a time. This race to defeat weariness can only be won one-step-at-a-time. Step by step, hand in hand it can be defeated.
So, keep on looking to the Lord for guidance and enjoy the increased energy level that results when those just plain tired days fade away.
Prayer: Thank you Lord for always being there for us especially when we experience a just plain tired day. Amen!