Emotional exhaustion isn’t new. It’s also not something foreign to the Bible. Just read the book of Lamentations.
When Jeremiah wrote the book, Jerusalem had been captured. The Israelites were in exile. Everything Jeremiah held sacred had been destroyed.
He was emotionally exhausted, and for an entire book of the Bible, Jeremiah releases his frustrations and expresses his emotions to God.
In the midst of these complaints, he refocuses on God. He writes, “Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this” (Lamentations 3:21 NLT).
What brought Jeremiah hope during this very difficult time? He answers immediately:
“The Lord’s kindness never fails! If he had not been merciful, we would have been destroyed. The Lord can always be trusted to show mercy each morning. Deep in my heart I say, ‘The Lord is all I need; I can depend on him!’” (Lamentations 3:22-24 CEV).
Jeremiah refocuses on five truths about God that helped to refuel him in the midst of his exhaustion.
He remembers:
God’s Steadfast love
God’s Unfailing mercy
God’s Great faithfulness
God is Always kind
God is my Real hope
When life overwhelms you, don’t focus on your problems. Don’t give in to despair.
Focus your attention on God himself.
A lot of people reach for chocolate when they’re emotionally exhausted. But it can’t truly comfort you.
But notice the acronym above. It’ll help you remember this truth. This is the kind of SUGAR you’ll need in order to be refueled. You won’t get a sugar high through it. It won’t make you gain weight. It won’t make you more depressed.
Build your life around those character traits of God, and you’ll be ready for whatever setback comes your way.
Talk It Over
How do you think you might have responded to a disaster like Jeremiah faced, where his home city had been destroyed and his people had been exiled?
When you feel emotionally exhausted, which truth about God’s character from today’s devotional has the biggest impact on your well-being? Why?
The next time you feel burned out, what are some ways you can remember to refocus on who God is?
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