"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me" (2 Cor. 12:9).
Have you ever been at your wit’s end? By that I mean have you ever come to the end of your own resources? Possibly you’ve reached your emotional limit. Or perhaps you’re scraping the bottom of your financial barrel. We all have a limit. And I reached mine. Not for the first time in my life. My emotional, mental, and spiritual tank was feeling a little depleted.
The good news is that I’m not the first one to experience this kind of depletion. After sharing my heart with a good friend, and being encouraged to rest and take some time out to refuel my tank, I did just that. I put the phone down and went for a walk. And while I walked, I simply allowed His Spirit to speak to mine. I allowed the sunshine to flood my soul and took in the beautiful scenery surrounding me, while I filled my lungs with fresh air. Then I came home and was encouraged as I read Psalm 107 where the Lord reminded that I’m not alone in how I’m feeling. The portion of the psalm that caught my depleted heart’s attention and ministered as deep calls to deep says:
Some went out on the sea in ships; they were merchants on the mighty waters. They saw the works of the Lord, his wonderful deeds in the deep. For he spoke and stirred up a tempest that lifted high the waves. They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths' in their peril their courage melted away. They reeled and staggered like drunkards; they were at their wits' end. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind (Psalm 107:23-31).
I’m thankful that when I’m at my wit’s end, Jesus’ mercies are just beginning. He meets me right where I’m at to hear me out, lift me up, and set me on the right track again. I’m so thankful that when the tempests blow, His whisper calms the storm and hushes the roaring waves that threaten to pull me under. I’m thankful for a personal Savior who guides me to my desired haven. He gives me permission to set aside the world’s troubles and worries and exchange them for His peace. He promises to not only provide for all my needs, but be all I need Him to be. One who has performed too many wonderful deeds and allowed me to witness too many of His incredible works to fail me now. One who continues to give me enough hope and strength to keep pressing on when my courage melts away—and who ultimately is my Hope and source of strength.
As the Lord spoke into my depleted soul through this powerful psalm, He reminded me of a few things. And as always, I figured if it was good enough for me, it was good enough to share with you.
WHEN YOU'RE RUNNING ON EMPTY
Here are a few things to do when you find yourself at your wit’s end:
1. Call an Understanding Friend.
At times it can be pride. Or it can simply be that it’s easier to bear someone else’s burdens than it is to bear ours with them. Let’s face it none of us likes to burden anyone else with our load of heavies. However, a true, understanding friend will allow you to share your load without bearing it themself. Rather they will carry it to Jesus right alongside you. After all, that’s what friends are for.
2. Tell Yourself the Truth.
When we’re down about life, we can easily get down on ourselves. That’s because we’re vulnerable. And when we’re vulnerable, we start to listen to lies about ourselves. It’s when I’m vulnerable and tired that I’m the worst wife, mother, and friend—says no one but myself. Until I give my head a shake, or until a friend does it for me, or the Lord’s Word speaks into my heart to remind me of the truth. Instead of being held captive to the lies, we need to take them captive to the Truth who will set us free.
3. Be Good to Yourself.
Do something for you. Do something that rejuvenates your spirit and recharges your emotional and mental battery– make an investment in yourself. It could be as simple as taking an hour with no schedule or to-do list. Take a brain-stretch walk outside in the fresh air.
4. Take the Pressure Off.
As I said, we all have a limit, and once we’ve hit it, it’s important we humbly acknowledge it and then do something about it. When we’re feeling “under it”, not only do we have to be good to ourselves, we shouldn’t be too hard on ourselves. If you’re like me, the worst expectations put upon you are those you’ve put upon yourself. So, cut yourself some slack. Lower the bar and don’t kick yourself while you’re down.
5. Rest.
The power of physical rest cannot be underestimated. It renews body, mind, and soul. It gives us a fresh perspective and strength to take the next step and to face another day.
6. Do Something to Release the Pressure.
Have a good cry, go for a walk or run, have a bath, journal or talk to a friend. Do something healthy to release all the pent-up everything you’re bearing.
7. Claim God’s Promises.
The restorative power of God’s Word speaks into our hearts and provides us with wisdom, spiritual strength, and peace. We need to tap into this powerful resource to remind ourselves that we’re not alone.
8. Cast your Cares to Jesus.
He understands. He reached His limit too. He knew when to withdraw and head for the hills. He knew when to say “when.” He knew when to say “no” or “wait” or “be still” so that His Father’s kingdom would come and His will would be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Our heavenly Father knows our needs. He gives us our daily bread. He breathes life into our dry bones. He offers rest to the weary. He is the all-knowing, all-powerful, all-gracious, ever-faithful God! Let Him fill you with His love and fuel you with His power. We are weak. But He is strong. You may be running on empty, but His well will never run dry.
