A Prayer When Feeling Tired and Weary

From Gospel Translations

The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of 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. Isa. 40:28-31

Gracious Father, this was one of the first Scriptures I memorized as a young believer, yet reading it today is like finding a new treasure in an old field; like catching a prize rainbow trout on a Zebco Tweetie-Bird spinning reel; like opening the curtains of my den in Franklin and seeing the Alps of Switzerland.

That’s one of the things I most love about your Word. It’s never manageable or redundant, but ever-new and ever life-giving. You’re the God who speaks in specifics and without stuttering. You’re the Father who knows what we need even before we ask, and you provide before we ask. Daily are your mercies and steadfast your love…great is your faithfulness.

This passage is marked multiple times in my favorite Bible with different colored markers, and for good reason. It reminds me, Father, that you’re not like me, (thankfully), in so many ways. You never get tired or weary. I do and I am. Accepting limitations, finiteness, and weakness has never been one of my strengths. But I must. Since youths grow tired and weary and young men stumble and fall, why do I think I’m exempt from “running on empty” and hitting a wall?

Father, I’m not asking to soar like an eagle, as cool as that might be; and I’m not seeking to run like a sprinter or a marathoner. Just walking upright with a renewed heart, a steady gait, and a replenished energy will be enough.

My hope is in you, Father—the God who brings living water into the parched places; gospel manna perfectly prepared for my hungry heart; sufficient grace to my great insufficiency. Right now I look to you for all the spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical strength I’ll need to live out the implications of the gospel, in this one day. I’m not “toast”, though I could be heading there. But I have zero doubts about your great compassion for me in Jesus.

Because Jesus embraced the ultimate weakness and weariness of the cross, I’m confident of your burden-bearing love; and I’m free to own, not despise my brokenness and weaknesses. I may be weary in my servanthood, but I’m at great peace in my sonship. Nothing can separate us from your love, Abba, Father, nothing. That is so very true to me, and it’s my anchor of hope when I have little any energy left to row my little boat. So very Amen I pray, in Jesus’ tender and triumphant name.