Tired or Worn-Out?

Have you ever been so tired you just didn’t know if you were going to be able to put one foot in front of the other?  Do you know the difference in being tired and worn-out?  Is there a difference at all?  I was trying to decide if I was tired or worn-out, and I went to the dictionary to look at the two words.  The dictionary says the definition of the word tired (adj) is:  in need of sleep or rest.  Whereas, the word worn-out (adj) is:  extremely tired; exhausted; damaged or shabby to the point of being no longer usable.  Do either of these ring true in your life? Do they sound like you? 

Matthew 11:28-30  “Come to me, all of you, who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

I haven’t given much information about my medical condition  or any issues that I am having with my Gastroparesis and feeding tube recently, but I am definitely still having some problems.  I am not sure how deep I want to discuss that here, or if I even should.  What I want to talk about today is what happens when we get get tired or worn-out; to do that I am going to touch on my health just a bit.  When we get “tired” in a general sense, we try to sleep or relax.  We might even take a vacation.  There are those that will try a new diet or try to reduce their stress.  The Bible says in Matthew 11:28-30 to bring our burdens to Christ, and He will give us rest, but what exactly does that mean?  In context, it is talking about coming to Jesus for salvation and finding rest for our soul in eternity.  That does not mean never having problems or being physically tired, but it does mean that we can unpack our suitcase at Jesus doorstep and leave everything there.  

There are days when I think I am worn-out, to the point where I am no longer usable.  I think this has to do with my Gastroparesis.  Just this week I have been in the Emergency Room twice for pain management.  The doctors have given me a time frame of my life and what it will look like at this point, but I am willing to continue the fight, for now.  

I know that there are other people with worse struggles.  When feeling worn-out, what is there to do?   I turned to my Bible, and there are a few scriptures in 1Kings 19:4-9 that I love.  This is the story of Elijah, and it is one of my favorites.  He is so worn-out in these verses that he prays to God to die.  As Elijah settles under a broom tree, he falls asleep. Even back in Biblical days, the saints had depression and weakness.  God knew exactly what Elijah needed, just as He always knows what we need.  An angel brought food, and God provided rest.  There is more to the story, but you should read it for yourself.  I don’t want to tell all of it.  What I do want to point out is that God was there when Elijah needed food, rest, and comfort.  It was time for full-on repair.  The same things that we need, God will provide.  

There are weeks that I spend 1 to 2 days in the emergency room getting full-on repair for my Gastroparesis and feeding tube; then there are times that I don’t have to go for a month. But, I go when necessary, and God meets me there because he knows exactly what I need and where I need to go to get it. I don’t like to go there. As a matter of a fact, I hate it.  I have horrible veins, and they usually have to stick me 3 to 4 times before getting an IV in.  On top of that, I’m so medication sensitive that we have to find the right combination of medicines to get the pain and nausea down which is just another complication. I know the nurses hate to see me coming even though they smile and tell me it’s no problem.  They wish that I would get a port placed, so they wouldn’t have to stick me and could just access a port in my neck. If they wish I would get a port placed, how do they think I feel about it?  But, God meets me with all of my needs. Even if all of this fails, I will still praise his name. I will still shout, “Hallelujah”, because it is the highest praise. I still can’t wait to get to Heaven and see my savior and blessed Jesus.

If you have ever wondered where the name of my blog came from, wonder no more. Even if all of the treatment for my Gastroparesis eventually fails, and their time frame of two years is correct for the amount of time that I have left, I will still praise Jesus’ holy name the entire time.

Daniel 3:18.  But even if He does not rescue us, we want you as king to know that we will not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up.