Exhausted

There are days when I come home and I’m out of strength. Please keep in mind that I’m considered a “desk jockey” – I’m not doing a ton of physical labor. Some of my labor is cerebral but exhausting.  I have also experienced physical exhaustion.  Most recently I was helping my son build his house and we worked hard physically and at 8 PM we were still going. I was almost sick from exhaustion. (I’m not as young as I once was!)

The exhaustion that Job is feeling is from his sickness. He is physically suffering, and it is wearing him out.  I’ve been physically sick and there isn’t much to do except rest. He is frustrated and he would prefer death to this suffering. He’s lost everything including his health and he’s frustrated that his friend didn’t understand but instead lectured him about his faith. Job pushes back. Check this out….

⁸ “Oh, that I might have my request,
    that God would grant my desire.
⁹ I wish he would crush me.
    I wish he would reach out his hand and kill me.
¹⁰ At least I can take comfort in this:
    Despite the pain,
    I have not denied the words of the Holy One.
¹¹ But I don’t have the strength to endure.
    I have nothing to live for.
¹² Do I have the strength of a stone?
    Is my body made of bronze?
¹³ No, I am utterly helpless,
    without any chance of success. (Job 6:8-13 NLT)

Job is digging deep to hang on. He is really struggling. He is really suffering.  As I was reading this, I was reminded of a song from years ago called, “His Strength Is Perfect” by Stephen Curtis Chapman.

I can do all things
Through Christ who gives me strength
But sometimes I wonder what He can do through me
No great success to show
No glory of my own
Yet in my weakness He is there to let me know

His strength is perfect when our strength is gone
He’ll carry us when we can’t carry on
Raised in His power, the weak become strong
His strength is perfect, His strength is perfect

We can only know
The power that He holds
When we truly see how deep our weakness goes
His strength in us begins
Where ours comes to an end
He hears our humble cry and proves again

As I listened to this song, I was reminded of the strength that the Lord gives when “I’m out of gas”. He knows what I need when I need it. I want to walk through struggle, exhaustion holding on tight to Him and His perfect strength.

Pressing On!

Dwayne