“For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish.” (Jeremiah 31: 25)
Most of us have experienced physical weariness at some point in our lives. The last several years, however, have also produced a sense of “soul-weariness” like I’ve never seen before. People are emotionally weary, physically exhausted, and spiritually drained from all that is going on around us. From Covid to societal unrest to political and serious economic upheaval, it is so easy to become weary and not know where to turn.
Sadly, even as a follower of Jesus, I can let my soul become drained and weary. While Christians are not immune to this life’s problems and issues, we of all people should know better! God’s Word provides answers, as well powerful tools to replenish ourselves. Here are a few tips to combat weariness.
1. Get enough sleep. During my 30-year career as a police officer, I worked crazy shifts including many years of working overnight. I get it. We sometimes don’t have complete control over our schedules and end up paying the price by not getting enough sleep. For most people, however, it’s a matter of discipline. Turning off the TV and disconnecting from social media earlier in the evening would help so many people get the peaceful rest that they need.
2. Cultivate times of worship in your routine. True worship has the power to lift our spirits to another level. The Prophet Isaiah said that God gives his people, “the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness…” (Isaiah 61:3 NKJV). Of course, corporate worship and praise at church is a great thing. I’ve found, though, that I need times with God during the week, too. Put on some great worship music at home or in your car and tell your Heavenly Father how great he is and how much you love him. It will change your outlook on life!
3. Spend less time on social media and watching the news. I enjoy both of those activities but I have drastically cut back how much time I give to each of them. The news media promotes a spirit of fear. That is why so much of what they show is touted in as negative a light as possible. “If it bleeds, it leads,” is sadly a true adage when we talk about news coverage. Social media isn’t much better. I find by simply cutting back my intake of these two things, I’m in a much better frame of mind!
4. What refreshes your soul? I have a friend who has found so much fulfillment lately in building things. He’s a talented woodworker and is able to use a different part of his brain. His paying job is very stressful and he told me that creating something with his hands has a way of refilling him emotionally. For me, I enjoy a good workout. I find that working hard in the gym is a great way to refresh my mind as well as staying in shape. For years, I have done some of my best critical thinking and processing while I’m lifting weights. What refreshes you?
5. Who do you enjoy being with? Let’s face it: some people in our world suck the life out of us. There are others, though, who we draw life from. We encourage them and they encourage us. Those are the people that we need to try and spend some with each week. I know that we’re all busy. At the same time, the men that I connect with weekly in my small group are the guys that I want to be with. My church family are the people that I want to be around. I’m introvert by nature, but I also know that I need to be intentional about being around the right kind of people.
What are some other ways that you combat soul-weariness?
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