Learning From The Psalms When You're Exhausted

Today's Daily Devo reflects on how praying/reading the Psalms can help us when we are feeling absolutely wrung out and exhausted.  We'll be focusing on Psalm 62, which you can read HERE.

“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Christ does not invite us because we have finally become strong enough. He invites us because we are tired enough to admit that we cannot carry life alone.”— Reflection on Matthew 11 by Henri J. M. Nouwen

Over the past few years, I had some dark times when worry and anxiety so consumed me that I lost the ability to get good rest.  I dreaded nighttime because I knew I would undoubtedly awaken in the wee hours and have a hard time falling back asleep.  

I tried all kinds of sleep remedies, but nothing seemed to work.  I was exhausted physically, mentally, and emotionally, and it didn't take long for spiritual exhaustion to set in as well.  

Even when I was able to sleep soundly, which was rare, I still couldn't shake the feeling of being completely wrung out.  My days were spent doing everything I could to maintain energy and be productive, and my nights were filled with my head spinning with anxious thoughts at 3 AM.  

Anyone who has experienced this kind of thing can tell you there is an exhaustion sleep alone cannot cure.

It is the weariness that comes from carrying responsibilities, caring for loved ones, grieving losses, making difficult decisions, or simply trying to keep going when life feels relentlessly demanding. Many of us have learned to function while exhausted, convincing ourselves that slowing down is a luxury we cannot afford.

Psalm 62 offers another way: "For God alone my soul waits in silence... He alone is my rock and my salvation." (Psalm 62:1-2). The psalmist does not begin by solving problems. He begins by becoming still.

That is remarkably difficult in our hurried world. We often measure our worth by our productivity, believing that busyness is the same as faithfulness. Yet throughout Scripture, God repeatedly invites people into rhythms of rest. Sabbath was never merely a day off; it was a declaration that God is God—and we are not.

Jesus embodied this rhythm. Despite the endless needs around him, he regularly withdrew to lonely places to pray (Luke 5:16). If the Son of God made space for silence and renewal, surely we need it as well.

Rest is not laziness. It is trust. Every time we step away from our endless striving, we quietly confess that the world does not depend entirely upon us. God continues working even while we rest.

Perhaps today you cannot take an entire Sabbath. But maybe you can pause for five minutes of silence, take a slow walk, pray without rushing, or simply breathe deeply while remembering that God is near.

Your soul was not created to run endlessly. It was created to live from the strength that God provides.

Prayer

God of rest, you know how weary I have become. Quiet the constant noise within me and remind me that my value is not measured by what I accomplish. Teach me to receive your gift of rest and to trust that you are at work even when I am still. Renew my body, my mind, and my spirit today. Amen.

Reflection Questions

1. What kind of weariness are you carrying right now—physical, emotional, or spiritual?
2. What keeps you from embracing healthy rhythms of rest?
3. What simple practice could help you become more aware of God's presence today?