Lord... I'm Tired | Finding God's Strength When You Have Nothing Left

Have you ever felt so exhausted that all you wanted to do was lie down and not even pray? This feeling doesn't stem from a lack of faith or love for God; sometimes, life simply drains us. You're not alone if you're tired of being the one everyone depends on, tired of smiling while your heart breaks, or just plain tired of being strong. In this post, we'll explore what it means to seek strength from God when you're running on empty, drawing insights from personal experiences and biblical wisdom.

## Understanding Emotional Exhaustion

Feeling emotionally drained can happen to anyone, especially when we carry burdens others can't see. You may continue to show up, pray, love, and serve while feeling completely exhausted inside. It's essential to recognize this fatigue and understand that it's okay to ask for help. In moments when you feel like you’re holding everything together, remember that you can lean on God for support.

### The Weight of Responsibility

Often, we take on the role of the strong one in our families or communities. This can lead to a dangerous cycle where we prioritize others' needs over our own. Barbara Wallace shares a poignant story about the loss of her mother, feeling the weight of her family’s grief while neglecting her own. She highlights that even when we try to be strong for others, we must also allow ourselves to grieve and seek support. It’s okay to be vulnerable and admit that you need help; doing so is a sign of strength, not weakness.

### Finding Strength in Scripture

Isaiah 40:31 reminds us that those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. This verse encourages us to pause and seek God’s presence, especially when we feel depleted. Waiting on God means trusting in His timing and allowing Him to restore our energy and hope. Barbara emphasizes the importance of leaning on Scripture during tough times, highlighting that God is our refuge and strength (Psalms 46:1). This divine help can lift us when we feel overwhelmed by life’s challenges.

### The Healing Power of Vulnerability

It’s vital to understand that vulnerability is not a flaw; it can be a pathway to healing. Barbara recounts moments of pretending to be okay, even when she wasn’t. Many people struggle with the fear of being perceived as weak, yet sharing our struggles can lead to deeper connections and support. It’s okay to cry and express your emotions; it’s part of the healing process. God invites us to cast our cares upon Him, assuring us that He is always there to support us.

### Trusting God Through Pain

Barbara’s personal journey through grief and loss illustrates how trusting God can lead to eventual joy. After experiencing a miscarriage, she felt numb and lost but found comfort in prayer and scripture. Her story serves as a reminder that even during our darkest moments, God has a plan for us. It’s essential to keep faith that joy will come in the morning, as God promises to turn our mourning into dancing (Psalms 30:11). Trusting God means believing that He can bring beauty from our pain and that our struggles serve a purpose.

## Key Takeaways
- **Recognize Your Exhaustion**: It's okay to feel tired and overwhelmed. Acknowledge your emotions and allow yourself to seek help.
- **Lean on Scripture**: Find strength in biblical verses that resonate with your situation. God’s word is a source of comfort and renewal.
- **Embrace Vulnerability**: Share your struggles with trusted friends or family. Vulnerability can foster deeper connections and support.
- **Trust in God’s Plan**: Even in pain, trust that God is working in your life. Hold onto hope and believe that joy will follow sorrow.

In conclusion, if you’re feeling tired and burdened, remember that you’re not alone. God sees your struggles and offers strength and comfort. Take the time to connect with Him, share your burdens, and allow yourself to be vulnerable. You are worthy of support and love, and through God, you can find the strength to keep moving forward.

The Rooted Circle Community: https://www.skool.com/the-rooted-circle-5090/about

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:24

Have you ever been so tired that you just wanted to lie down and not even pray? Not because you don't love God and not because you lost your faith, but because life has taken so much out of you that you don't even have the words. You're tired of being the one everyone depends on, you're tired of smiling while your heart is breaking, and maybe today you're simply tired of being strong. If that's where you are today, don't leave because God knows the word will bring you through. Welcome back to Planted and Rooted in God's Word. I am your host, Barbara Wallace. Now, if you ever felt emotionally exhausted, spiritually drained, physically worn out, or simply overwhelmed by life, then today's conversation is for you. Lord, I need strength because I am so tired today. Sometimes life leaves us carrying burdens that no one else can see. We keep showing up, we keep praying, we keep loving, we keep serving. Today we're talking about those moments when you whisper, Lord, I need strength because I am so tired today. Today we're going to discover what God's word says about finding strength when we have nothing left to give. And before we begin, let us pray. Precious Father God, I thank you, and I would like for you to come in the midst of us and so you can show us how to be strong in the midst of our sorrows. Thank you for joining me today on this broadcast. And let me share a personal story with you right now. I remember this moment as if it was just yesterday. My mother had just passed away, and I lived here in Florida, and my dad stayed in South Carolina, and that's where my brothers and my sister live. So at that moment, you know, I was devastated. Again, this is my mom, and she's no longer here with me to share my laughters, to share my pain, to walk me through heartaches and pains, to hold me when I needed to be comforted. So, of course, I felt as if I needed to be the strong person, that I needed to be the one that they can rely on me. I wanted to be there for my brothers, for my sister, and for my father. How many of you have felt that way that you felt as if you needed to be there for everyone? Now, what happened was that because I was standing strong and I was the rock of Gibraltar, and I was the one that everyone could come to, I was consoling everyone, I was holding them up, and I was encouraging them, and I was the one that didn't cry. But what I failed to realize is that I needed someone to hold me as well. I needed to cry, I needed to grieve, and I needed to feel the pain. Has that ever been you that you needed to cry and you needed someone to hold you up and you were feeling the pain? And during that time, I felt as if no one was seeing how I saw this. No one was around to come and say, Stop. You know, are you okay? I felt as if no one was listening to me and no one paid attention because they relied on me to be the strong person because, you know, I trust in God and I put on that front as if it was okay. But in the middle of the night when I was laying in my bed and I was resting, I realized I needed someone to come and console me. I needed someone to come and hold me. I needed someone to give me an encouraging word. And that was not found during that time. If that's you, let me know. Share what you've gone through. It might be you right now that you're going to be strong and you're going on and on and you're being there for everyone else. And because of that, I felt as if I was left all alone to hold it strong. Everyone was leaning on me, everyone was counting on me, everyone was looking towards me to be the strong person. And I did that, but I needed someone, and during that time, I didn't even reach out to ask anyone. You know, I need help. I kept it all in, and that's not good. Have you ever felt that way? That you felt as if you were the stronger person, and that was a time that you needed to cry. So maybe you're in that season. Maybe you were in that season. Maybe you felt the same way. Was that you? How did it make you feel? And what did you do when you were put in that predicament that you had to be strong, that you had to hold on, and that you had to keep everyone encouraged. I would like to know how you did that and what did you do to get yourself out of that situation? And sometimes you just have to say, Lord, help me. And you have to be able to hold on and let God take that pain away. And I know so many times we feel as if we are the ones that have to keep it together, that we are the ones that have to hold on. I really would like to know what things that you experienced that made you think that you would have to be the strong one. Now in Isaiah 40 and 31, what it says is, but those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. And so I had to do that. I had to wait on the Lord, I had to hold on to his unchanging hand. And I needed the strength to carry on. And I remember during that time, I just was going through motions after motion. And I'm wondering if that was you, if you were just going through the motions. But just remember what Isaiah 40 and 31 says that if you wait upon the Lord, he shall renew your strength. And so I just ask that you, you know, just tell me where you are, because I feel the same way that you may be feeling now, or someone else. And another thing that I realize is that in Psalms 46 and 1, what it says is God is our refuge and our strength, where God can always, you know, lift you up and make you strong and bring you through the hard times. It's not easy going through pains and heartaches when we see everyone else is looking towards us for the strength. Well, we see everyone is counting on us. You know, is that you that you see everyone is counting on you and relying on you? And I would like to know: is it okay for you to cry? Is it okay for you to show that you're vulnerable? And I will say to you, yes, it is okay to cry. It is okay to show that you're vulnerable. And during those times, this is when I would say you hold on to God's unchanging hand and that you don't let go. And you say, God, I'm gonna cast my cares on you. I'm gonna let you lead me, I'm gonna hold on to your understanding and not my own, because let me tell you, pain is something else when we're going through it. But the scriptures also say that weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning time. So I know you've probably experienced times where you've gone through weeping. Is that you? And have you gone through the pains, but you've been moving through? And I pray that you are be able to move through that pain and realize that joy will come in the morning time, the God will give you the strength. So have you been pretending that you're okay? Because sometimes we pretend. If that's you, let me know. When have you been pretending that you're okay? What time of the season that you was asked, are you okay? And you replied, I'm fine. Let me know if that's you. Have you been there before? Where folks will come in your face and say, Hey, is everything okay? And then you turn around and you say, All right. Let me know what had happened and what did you do. Now I remember this time when I found out that I had lost, you know, a pregnancy. And this was my first pregnancy. I didn't even realize that I was pregnant. What happened was that I was having so much pain and aches in my body, my stomach, I was cramped over, and I was just thinking to myself while I was laying in my bed, wow, this is another one of those bad minstrels. So, because it was worse than I've ever felt, and I had, you know, my family member asked me, you know, are you okay? And, you know, although I was in pain, I said, Yeah, I'm okay. But and they say, you know, go to the doctor and let him check. So I went to the doctor that morning, and my doctor told me something that blew my mind. My doctor had said to me, and after asking me a series of questions and how I felt and what did I feel and what things that I go through and what did I experience during that night, my doctor told me that I had a miscarriage. And instantly I became numb. My mind would blank. I didn't know if it was just a shock of what the doctor said, but I started to stare into space, and it felt as if someone came and poured a bucket of cold water on me. I didn't feel anything, I was numb to life. The doctor was speaking to me, I was not understanding what the doctor was saying, and all that I was feeling was I had a life in me. Lord, and now I don't. And I didn't understand what was going on, it was just so much things going on in my mind. Have you ever felt that pain that you felt numb to what was going on around you? And so I made it home, still unaware of my feelings and my emotions, and what was I supposed to do with this? And I shared with my family, I said, I just came back from the doctor, and the doctor told me that I miscarried, that I was pregnant and I lost the baby. Well, I was with my mom, and my mom she held me. She knew that I needed someone to hold me tight and reassure me. We read the word together, we prayed, and my mom said to me, She said, Listen, this is what I want you to do. I don't want you to think as if you've done anything wrong. But God has something big in store for you. Just go home, rest, read your word, be joyful, continue to pray, continue to trust in the Lord, and don't take it as if God just does something to punish you. Have you ever felt as if God did something to punish you and you didn't know why this had happened to you? So I took my mother's advice and I went home. I rested, I prayed, I put the word in, and I started to feel so much better after that. Although, you know, I went through a devastating time in my life. Let me know if you've ever gone through a devastating time in your life, and you felt numb because that's where I was. I felt numb. But less than six months, I went back to the doctor, and my doctor had told me that I was pregnant once again. That was the most exciting time in my life. And my doctor said something to me, and I don't even know if my doctor was a Christian, but my doctor said to me that sometimes our bodies reject things that are just not healthy. And not knowing, I remembered what my mom said. Just trust in the Lord, just believe that all things are going to work out for your good. And she told me that the doctor had said to me that you're having a healthy baby. Don't worry about anything, everything will be fine, your pregnancy is gonna go as normal, and you will have a healthy baby. So even in that time of troubles and heartaches and pain, I had to lean onto God. I had to be encouraged to say God is going to work things out. So let me know if there was a time that you felt as if this can't be all that's going to happen to me. And see, what the devil wanted to do, and if I had allowed him to do that, he would have came into my mind and he would have said, See, you can't even carry a baby. And you know how women want to have be a mother and carry children, but I didn't let the devil come in. And that's what we have to be careful with that we don't let the enemy sneak into our mind and change the directive and the narrative of what we're going on and say, you know what, God, I thank you for this opportunity because it could have been worse. My doctor could have said to me, You no longer gonna have any more children, and that would have been the end of that, but I'm sure something else would have happened. But at that moment, I just held on to God, and I held on to what was the word saying to me, and how I felt during that time, and I did get over that pain, and tomorrow did come, and I did feel as if hey Lord, you had me. And look at this, I'm now going to be a mother of a child in a couple of more months that's coming. So I was excited about that. Share with me the things that made you excited when you found out that something good came out of that. So let me know if that was you at some point, and I just want to encourage you that all things are gonna work out regardless of what's going through. So if you've ever gone through a time that you felt so bad, you know, this is my suggestion, just little things. God created us to have human feelings, and there are gonna be times that we need to cry. God is not looking to us to be a superwoman. All He's wanting us to do is say, Lord, and this is a simple thing, I'm tired. Lord, I need your help, Lord, I'm hurting right now. And what that does is shows your strength. How many of you have said to the Lord, I'm tired, and then you felt a little better? How many of you have drawn a bath and you got in that tub and you soaked and you meditated and you prayed and you sang songs of praise, and after that you got out of that tub refreshed because you handed it all over to God. You didn't let whatever that problem was take you down. You didn't let your burden bother you, but you gave it to Jesus, and that's all he's asking. He's asking us to lay it all at his feet, allow him to hold us because we serve a God that is the same today, yesterday, and forevermore. Whether or not if it's a time that you're looking for a new home, and I've been there, I was looking for a new home, and I was excited each time that I saw a new home, and I said, Hey, this is my new home. And I claimed I'm like, This is my house, I'm moving into this new house, and it fell through, but I didn't let that bother me. I said, Oh well, Lord, I guess this house is not for me. So that optimistic kept me encouraged each time. I didn't say, Well, you know, Lord, I asked you for this house and you didn't give it to me. I just stayed encouraged, and that's what you should do. Whether or not you're driving a car and you get in that car and you turn it a key and nothing happens, regardless of what you're trying to do. That car can't get you from anywhere, but God can bless you with a brand new car or a car that is going to work to get you wherever you need to go. That car is your vehicle, and you have to just trust that he's gonna make a way out of no way, and don't let anyone tell you differently, oh, you're never gonna get anywhere, you're never gonna be anybody, you're never going to mount to nothing. That's just a lot of chatter in your head that the enemy puts forth in front of you, and he takes sometimes our weakness as our meekness, but if we just say, Lord, I'm allowing you to take all of my burdens, I'm allowing you to bring me through. And whatever that is, let me know what that may be that you're allowing God at this time to take you through. Is it a time that you felt that so many people was looking at you strange, or you didn't get that promotion that you wanted, or you didn't get that job that you wanted? Sometimes that's not the right job. And we have to realize that God wants the best for us, that the best is coming our way if we just hold on. And I'd like to know what you think your best is coming, because we don't know what God's plan is, but you just keep and stay focused on Him. You just keep your eyes on the prize, you look up to the hills from when it's cometh your strength. And if you say, Lord, I'm expecting a miracle that you just hold on. There's a song that we used to say, This joy that I have, the world didn't give it to me, the world didn't take it, and the world can't take it away. So if there's joy that you have, keep that joy. And I know sometimes we feel that we have to be the life of the party. Sometimes we feel as if we should have all the answers. Is that you? You feel as if you should have all the answers? Is that you that you feel as if I need to be the mighty person? But you know what? We go through these things. We go through these burdens, and we don't have to do it alone. We just have to say, Lord, I'm yours. Use me, point me in your direction, and be encouraged. And I want you to know that that is strength in the time of your storm. Sun will come out. Weeping may endure for a night, but remember, joy will come in the morning time if we trust and we stay encouraged. Second Corinthians, I want you to remember this, and you probably already know these, but 2 Corinthians 12 and 9 says, My grace is sufficient for you. So his grace is sufficient for everything. God's grace and mercy brings us from day to day because his love will never lose power. And that if we just continue on saying, Lord, you are my all in all. You are my burden bearer. You hold me up and keep me strong. That I don't have to worry about tomorrow. And I realize that, but yes, we all gonna go through some pains, we are gonna go through some heartaches, but remember, my sister, in Christ in the Lord, that whatever is happening, God can handle it. You know, what are your burdens that you have been carrying alone? Share that with me. What would happen if today you gave it to God? I would like to know. You know, do you feel as if that things will be different? And this is a time where we get to uplift one another. This is a time where we get to share where we've been. And we get to uplift one another because of the love in us. And although there've been times that I've been knocked down, I had to get back up again and again and again. I had to not remain there because I didn't want the enemy to come in and keep me in a place where I don't want to stay. And that is not to judge you, to say that you've done anything wrong. But sometimes we just need the encouragement to point us in the right direction. It's like a compass. Should I go left? Should I go right? Which direction I'm going? And if you point it in the right directions, you can make out of that forest where the sun is. You can get out of that dark room and see the light again. You can smile again. You can stop pretending. You can say with love and excitement and enjoy that the joy of the Lord is your strength if you just hold on to God's unchanging hand. So let me tell you that God is not asking you to be a superwoman, he's asking you just to trust Him. You don't have to have all the answers, and you don't have to fix everything. You don't even have to carry every burdens. What burden are you carrying? God never asks you to carry what only He can carry. So put down everything that you need the Lord to carry right now. Write it down. Give it to the Lord. What are you carrying right now that you need to let go? And sometimes our strongest prayer is simply saying, Lord, I'm tired. And that is enough because he already knows. Why he already knows is because he created us. And he created us, he can see the tears that are going to stream down your face before he gets there. He can see what is coming your way, and all he does is wait for you to say something to him because God is somebody that will never leave you nor forsake you. And you're not forgotten, you're not left alone, and that's what he does. He just keeps you in his in his arms, he wraps you tight. And if that's you, share right now where you are, how you're feeling, or how you made it out, or if any of this thing has spoken to you and you feel as if you're lost. So if today's conversation has spoken to your heart, any of the questions that I have put out there reminisced in you that you felt as if, yes, I am there, or yes, I've been there, or yes, I know how that feels. Great. Share this episode with one woman who may be silently carrying more than you realize, or maybe that's you, and you want to share it with someone as well because they're going through the same thing that you're going through, but you never know. Your share could be the encouragement that she prayed for, she was looking for something, and she got it because you shared with her this conversation that we had. Now, if you're looking for a community of women who understands and what to walk through life during your hardest season while you're growing in faith, I would love to welcome you into the rooted circle community. Because you don't have to walk this journey alone, and also because of where you are or where someone else is, I ask you to comment no more hiding. I have a free seven-day devotional, no more hiding, to help you go through those dark moments, or maybe you can share it with someone in this dark moment. And again, it's free. It's a seven-day devotional, which is called No More Hiding. And I would like you to have that as my gift to you for listening to this podcast. And in my closing, I just want to pray for someone. So let us all bow our head. Father, in the name of Jesus, today we bring you tired hearts. Some of us are physically tired, some of us are emotionally tired, and some of us are spiritually tired. Some have been carrying burdens, Lord, that no one else knows about. So, Lord Jesus, teach us that it's okay to rest in you. Renew our strength, restore our joy. Lift every burden, Lord, that has become too heavy. Remind us that your grace is sufficient for today. Well, we choose to trust you with what we cannot carry no longer. In Jesus Christ's mighty name. I say amen. So this prayer, I pray that it meets you at your needs. I pray that it gives you strength, and I pray that it encourages you, that everyone here will be able to share where you are. So I thank you again and I acknowledge you that you are seen, that you are loved, that you are not forgotten, and that God loves you.

SPEAKER_00 30:55

Planted by the word of God, roots running deep and living water. Strong face shake is fragile. But I'm gonna move upon the water, I'm planted by the word.

SPEAKER_01 31:16

So, my last thing to say to you, if you don't have a church home, find a good church home that's going to feed you. And if you have a church home and you haven't been there for a while, I say go back to them. Be fed by your pastor. I'm sure that they'll welcome you with open arms and keep you. If you're in the Tampa Bay area and you would like to visit the church that I attend, which is Foundation's Church, you're more than welcome to come. We're located in Tampa, Florida, Corpus Park Drive, and suite 125A. My pastor, Anitra Farragut, is wonderful. She's filled with the word and she teaches a powerful word. We will be willing to welcome you. So all invited. Again, God bless you. Until the next episode.