by Pat Rieck, Community & Care Director

Why was I feeling so frustrated … so tired and burned-out? Nothing in my life had changed. In fact, my daily stressors were familiar, even expected. 

What was I missing?

Perhaps more “me” time … more self-care time to better manage myself? A new exercise routine to shake things up and really sweat out my woes? Or stretching? Yes! Maybe try to breathe through those woes instead … or could it be as simple as a coffee date with a friend? There had to be something …

Sudden clarity and conviction overwhelmed my senses - pursuing any number of self-care remedies were temporary. A word from the book of Isaiah sprang to the forefront of my mind:

“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. 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” (Isaiah 40:28-31, NIV).

The Lord is eternal. He renews my weary soul with the strength, perseverance and hope that I so desperately need. There is no substitute.

My soul exhaled with relief.  I didn’t need to find extra hours in the day to self-care myself to sanity. I needed to realign my heart and place my hope in the Lord. It was as simple as that.

Temporary self-care is no substitute for the eternal soul-care only the Lord can provide. And yet, somewhere — amidst the grind of the daily to-do’s, the frustrations, and the busyness of life — we lose our way.

Our hearts wander, and we find ourselves clinging to that which cannot sustain us. But we don’t have to settle for white-knuckled, clinging hopelessness. We can release our grip on the temporary and place our hope in the eternal hands of the One who does not grow tired or weary, the Creator of heaven and earth. He is our Lord. Let us not hesitate to return our hearts to Him today.

Dear heavenly Father, I praise You for who You are, the Eternal God. Forgive me for the times I’ve placed my hope in anything other than You. There is no substitute. I pray You realign my heart to Yours, and grant me strength for this day in You and You alone. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.