Strength for the weary

Isaiah 40:29 says: HE gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might HE increases power.
Psalm 29:11 says: The LORD gives strength to HIS people, The LORD blesses HIS people with peace.
Psalm 68:35 says: O GOD, YOU are awesome from YOUR sanctuary. The GOD of Israel HIMSELF gives strength and power to the people. Blessed be GOD!

I find myself wondering this morning if maybe you haven't begun this New Year feeling a little bit weary. I spent some time yesterday afternoon with a lady that was very weary. I could tell as soon as I walked into her home that the heaviness of her burden was wearing her down. There was little eye contact made and it was painfully obvious that she is hurting. My heart ached for her, but I had no words that could ease the pain that she is facing. I asked her, "Are you reading your Bible?" She said, "Not so much, but I am praying everyday." I encouraged her to spend time in the Psalms. You see, in all of the years that I have been coming to this book GOD has used the WORDS of Psalms to comfort my heart over and over and over again. HE has spoken from Psalms so many times that my immediate reaction to struggle is to begin scrolling through the book of Psalms looking for a word of hope or encouragement for a weary heart. This morning the FATHER gave me that WORD again.
You may have noticed though that I didn't start with a verse from Psalms. I was actually in Psalm 68 today and it cross references to Isaiah 40...what a wonderful chapter for us when we feel weary and tired and weak.
I would encourage you this morning if the daily grind is getting to you, get out a 3x5 card and write down the above verses. When you feel like you can't keep on keeping on, REMEMBER that the ONE WHO CREATED you gives strength to the weary and power to the weak.
Let's back up to Isaiah 40:28...Do you not know? Have you not heard? The EVERLASTING GOD, the LORD, the CREATOR of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. HIS understanding is inscrutable.

The ONE who made us understands that we get weak and weary and tired. HE understands that we are dust. HE knows that we sometimes falter in our faith, and struggle under the burden of the load that we carry. In KNOWING all of that HE has graciously offered to give us HIS strength when we are weary and HIS power when we are weak. Let's close this morning with 2 Corinthians 12:9. And HE said to me, "MY grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weakness, so that the power of CHRIST may dwell in me.
FATHER, THANK YOU THAT WHEN WE ARE WEARY AND TIRED WE CAN KNOW THAT YOU NEVER TIRE AND YOU NEVER GET WEARY. THANK YOU THAT WHEN WE FEEL OVERWHELMED WITH OUR CIRCUMSTANCES AND SITUATIONS YOU WILL REACH DOWN AND CARRY US. MY PRAYER THIS MORNING IS THAT WE WOULD BE WILLING TO BE CARRIED BY YOU. O FATHER, LET US SEE OUR OWN PRIDE AND OUR OWN WILLFULNESS SO THAT WE WILL BE WILLING TO BE CARRIED BY THE ONE WHO UNDERSTANDS IT ALL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORD. THANK YOU FOR USING IT TO CHALLENGE MY HEART. THANK YOU FOR CHARGING US, AS YOUR CHILDREN, WITH THE COMMAND TO BE DIFFERENT. FATHER, TEACH US TO WALK THE WAY YOU WOULD HAVE US...EVEN IF THAT INVOLVES GREAT HEARTACHE ALONG THE WAY. WE LOVE YOU. WE INVITE YOU TO BREAK US AND MOLD US AND MAKE US INTO WHO YOU WOULD HAVE US BE. YOU, JESUS, ARE WORTHY AND WONDERFUL AND WE WANT TO WALK LIKE YOU. IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS WE PRAY...AMEN!