Recently, I read a YouVersion devotional by Rick Warren called “Daring Faith”. He said that our number one problem is not worry or fear or guilt, but weariness. Weariness is so normal that I didn’t really see it as a big problem.
Upon deeper reflection, I realise that it IS a big problem. It is not okay to be constantly tired. As I reflected, I realise that there are different types of weariness and suggestions to overcome it:
| Type | Description | Overcoming Weariness |
|---|---|---|
| Body | Physical over-exertion; Lack of sleep or proper nutrition; | Have more quality sleep, eat well, exercise or play sports, add movement, or dance |
| Mind | Overuse of mental power without proper break; Non-stop scrolling of news or social media; Incessant worrying; Procrastination | Take regular breaks at work, reduce news and social media consumption, read jokes or watch comedy, overcome procrastination, take (small) actions, have growth mindset |
| Soul | Lack of community support; Lack of real connection with family and friends | Build supportive community; Reach out to people and help others in need; Go out to nature; Read good book; Practice self-care |
| Spirit | Feeling distance from God; feeling alone and isolated and abandoned | Pray; Forgive; Daily devotions, Read the Bible; Listen to Christian music; Practice meditation; Journaling |
Our body, mind, soul and spirit are interconnected – the weariness spills over from one to the other, e.g. from the mind to the body. As I thought about it, something occurred to me: one of the best way to overcome weariness is to PURSUE YOUR DREAM!
| Dream | and how it will overcome your weariness |
|---|---|
| Spirit | Seek God’s will to reveal the dream He has put inside your heart |
| Soul | Connect within yourself to seek the passion and the dream that has kept you restless – seek until you become excited and scared at the same time |
| Mind | Generate ideas, think of solutions, plan and organise to achieve your dream, monitor and review your plan, overcome negative self-talk and believe in yourself |
| Body | Do the physical things required, let your body be energised |
This revelation is so thrilling to me! Most of the time, we are weary due to lack of purpose or passion. Pursuing a dream gives us the impetus to overcome this weariness – energising and making us excited for God’s plan for us, and giving us renewed Hope!