When Fatigue Threatens You – Part 1

to whom he said, “This is the resting place, let the weary rest”; and, “This is the place of repose” — but they would not listen. Isaiah 28:12

Ruth Haley Barton coined the phrase ‘dangerous tiredness’. Its symptoms include: 1) Irritability/hypersensitivity. Things that wouldn’t normally bother you, like another motorist cutting you off or a friend’s irritating habits, put you on edge. 2) Restlessness. A vague sense that something isn’t right…you feel like running away…you’re exhausted, but you can’t fall asleep. 3) Compulsive overworking. Checking emails late into the evening…the inability to unplug completely and go on vacation…struggling to enjoy uninterrupted family time. 4) Emotional numbness. You don’t ‘feel’ anything, good or bad, and you’re afraid if you did you’d be overwhelmed. 5) Escapist Behavior. Compulsive eating, drinking, overspending, watching TV, pornography, surfing the Internet. You lack the will to exercise, connect with friends, pursue a hobby, or read a good book. Feeling disconnected from your calling. You go through the motions of ministry without any real sense of who you are and what God called you to do. You’re at the mercy of other people’s expectations and your own inner compulsions because you’ve no internal plumb line against which to measure these demands. Neglecting yourself physically. You’ve no time to eat right, take a walk, get enough sleep and do everyday things like washing the car or picking up the laundry. 6) Hoarding your energy. You’re afraid people will drain the last of your resources, so you withdraw to conserve what you have left. Letting your spiritual habits slip. Things that would normally energize you and you know are good for you, like praying, reading, keeping a diary and self-examination, feel like burdens. If any of this sounds familiar, the chances are you’ve hit a wall. It’s time to pay attention, talk to God, and reorder your priorities.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me to rest in You when I face fatigue. In Jesus’ Name, Amen