“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.”
Isaiah 40:28-31
Weariness has a way of settling deep in our bones. Beyond physical tiredness, it’s that soul-deep exhaustion that comes from carrying burdens, fighting battles, and trying to keep going when the path seems endless. Maybe you’re feeling that weight right now.
Our world knows weariness intimately. The Hebrew word for “weary” (yaga) here speaks of a fatigue that goes beyond physical exhaustion—it’s the kind that makes even standing feel like too much. Perhaps you know that feeling all too well.
But weariness was never meant to be our final story. When heaven broke through that first Christmas night, it wasn’t just bringing good news—it was bringing divine energy to tired souls. Trust me, God sees your exhaustion.
The shepherds knew all about weariness. Night after night of watching, working, waiting. Yet in one moment, their exhaustion turned to ecstasy as heaven’s glory lit up their ordinary field. Sometimes God’s greatest renewals come right in the middle of our routine fatigue.
“The world is not a pleasant place to be without God. It is a place of weariness and wickedness, which is why Christ came to change it.” – A.W. Tozer, influential pastor and author known for his deep spiritual insights. Like Tozer reminds us, our weariness finds its answer in Christ’s coming.
Your fatigue hasn’t escaped heaven’s notice. Every heavy sigh, every tired step, every moment when you’ve wondered how much longer you can keep going—God sees it all. And just as He did that first Christmas, He specializes in renewing weary hearts.
Sometimes renewal comes differently than we expect. The shepherds didn’t get less work, but they got more joy. The wise men didn’t get a shorter journey, but they got a clearer purpose. Maybe God wants to renew you right where you are.
Weariness makes us ready for renewal. When we’re at our most tired, we’re often most prepared to receive heaven’s strength. That’s why the angels’ message—”Glory to God in the highest”—came to tired shepherds, not to well-rested kings.
Joy and weariness can coexist. Just as the weary world rejoiced at Christ’s first coming, we can find joy even in our tiredness. Sometimes our deepest worship comes through tired tears.
Godseekers, our weariness is an invitation to His strength. Like those shepherds who traded their exhaustion for exultation, we serve a God who delights in exchanging our fatigue for His faithfulness, our burdens for His buoyancy, our sighs for His songs.
Prayer
Lord of renewal, thank You that You see our weariness and meet us in it. Pour Your strength into our tired places. Help us find joy even in our exhaustion, knowing that You’re working to restore and renew us. In Jesus name, Amen.
Personal Reflection
Where do you feel the most weary right now, and how might God be inviting you to find renewal there?
What would it look like to rejoice in God’s strength even while feeling tired?
Step of Faith
Today, take your biggest source of weariness and intentionally turn it into worship. Whether through song, prayer, or simply speaking truth over your tiredness, let God begin to transform your exhaustion into expectation.
