Encouraging Word Wednesday: Are You Weary?

I don’t know about you, but I need more of the Word in my life.  More truth. More wisdom.  More Jesus.  I have hard days; he gives hope.  I want to share that hope with you so I thought I’d start a little something new here.

Encouraging Word Wednesdays.

Regardless of how hectic the week has been, I will share something encouraging from the Word with you on Wednesday.  And, I would LOVE if you’d share something with me, too!  Either a link to a post about some way that God’s word has encouraged you this week or even just a verse in the comments.    Let’s encourage one another with God’s word.

This week, I’m weary.  I’m serious.  I’m exhausted just looking around at all of the things I need to do, much less doing them.  I thought some of you might be feeling the same way today.  Maybe you, too, have Christmas decorations stacked in your foyer waiting for someone to put them in place.  Maybe your laundry is piled up like mine, too.  Or maybe your husband also volunteered you to create the set for the kids’ Christmas play at church and there’s paint all over your living room.

You might have your chores done, but your heart is heavy.  The holidays can do that to us, can’t they?  The planning, the preparing, the parties, the people….Sometimes I think the only silent night must have been the first one because we’ve been busy making merry ever since.

Maybe your kids aren’t listening, much less obeying.  Maybe homeschool is way off schedule and running behind.

Maybe your newborn thinks night isn’t for napping.

Whatever it is that might be weighing you down today, you can find encouragement in the words of Isaiah 40.  Here are a few of my favorite verses from the chapter:

“He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those who have young.” (verse 11)

Do you hear that?  He will gather you up and hold you close.  If your strength is gone, he’s got more to give.  Leading little ones?  Let him lead you as you do.

“‘To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?’ says the Holy One.  Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens:  Who created all these?  He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name.  Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.'” (verse 26)

If he can keep track of the stars in the sky, he won’t lose you either.  You’re not forgotten or forsaken.

“Why do you complain, Jacob? Why do you say, Israel, ‘My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God’? Do you not know?  Have you not heard?  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.” (verse 28)

You might be weary, but he is not.  You might be confused, but he is not.  And, do you know what?  He will give that strength to you.  He will renew you because….

“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.” (verses 29-31)

Hope in him today.  Find your strength in its only source.  Rest in the one who never wearies. And, remember you’re never forgotten.

—————————————————————————

How have you been encouraged by the Word this week?  Please comment and share a link to an encouraging post about God’s word or just leave a verse that has encouraged you this week!