Sometimes I get a little burned out being a dad, husband and pastor. Sometimes I get tired of people always having “problems” that somehow land on my desk to fix. Sometimes I feel like no matter how hard I try, or how faithfully I serve... nothing changes. Ever feel that way? Then take three minutes and read on...
When those “feelings” of fatigue and apathy and exhaustion start to creep in, I consciously realize that I’m simply out of breath. I’ve been running on empty, nothing left to give or share or contribute. I need some air, fresh air. New breath in fact.
So God in His mercy provides us with a regular supply of fresh oxygenated air, and CPR to be administered when we need it. How?
Lots of ways actually.
- Time in the sacred Word refreshes our souls, cleanses our hearts and minds and renews our strength.
- Time with comrades. Spending time with my fellow believers and cohorts in this climactic battle of culture, values and truth, always renews my convictions and stirs my heart to stand strong in the face of adversity.
- Worship. In public, I am an awful singer, but alone in my car... I’m amazing. When I click on Third Day’s “Offerings” classic or anything by “Delirious” and I’m immediately reoriented from seeing only problems from those around me, to gazing intently and exclusively into the powerful presence of God and His majesty. Everything else fades away.
These are just three ways... there are hundreds and thousands of ways to get some breath back in your life. The trick is knowing you need to. How do YOU regain your breath?
Sometimes it may be a change of place, a short trip to nature or a date night with your spouse. However you need to, do it. Our kids, our communities and God’s Kingdom are counting on us to stay fresh, effective and illuminating beacons of hope to a darkening world. No one can run in their own strength for long.
"Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, 'My way is hidden from the Lord, and my right is disregarded by my God'? Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:27-31, ESV).
Blessings to you all as you struggle on in your parenting journey of faith. God is faithful and people are messy, but it’s totally worth it. Faith is only matured with others, and our purpose and identities cannot be firmly established as solo Christian exiles. Plug into the truest source of life. Revive and renew yourself in Jesus and allow the Holy Spirit to provide you with a new and complete filling of pure spiritual energy, fresh oxygen to breath... CPR for the Soul.
