David and four hundred men kept up the pursuit, but two hundred of them were too fatigued to cross the Brook Besor, and stayed there" (1 Sam 30:10 MSG).
Have you ever said or thought “I can take another thing! I can’t handle another issue: not another national crisis; not another dissatisfied co-worker or employer; not another family transition; just not another....”
You feel like you are running out of the emotional fortitude that is necessary to handle transition. You don't have the words to inspire yourself nor the attention span to hear anyone else's pep talk. You have grown weary in well doing, and you can't take another blow, hurt, accusation or anything. You are tired of the process. You can't go any further. You are emotionally, spiritually and physically spent and you are beginning to put your dreams on hold.
Practically speaking you have checked out. You are no longer living. You just exist. You are not fully alive, and even the psalms (or scriptures) you rehearse reflect your inability to negotiate your transition: Lord why have you forsaken me (See psalm 22); Soul why are you disquieted in me (psalm 42), or I'm in a horrible pit (psalm 40).
Theological scholars refer to these seasons or periods as times of disorientation. Life and life’s stuff are not correctly aligned and almost everything seems dysfunctional and out of order. Think it not strange when you come to these moments. Several biblical characters hit this place of emotional disorientation as well.
In the text, 1 Samuel 30, King David’s mighty, strong warriors were extremely fatigued and very weary. They had just seen and heard the devastation of their community; and their wives and children had been kidnapped by their enemies and constant opposition, the Amalekites. Frustration was so intense that the mighty men of God cried uncontrollably. Moreover, they had such internal friction that they wanted to stone David, their leader. They just didn't know what to do with the hurt they felt or where to place the blame (see 1Sam 30: 1-7). Then, with all that extreme disappointment resonating, they heard a Godly word from Abithar, the priest, who told them to pursue – to go and reclaim their families and their possessions.
Now, two hundred of the six hundred men (one third) were so physically tired and emotionally weary that they did not pursue. They simply couldn't do it. The remaining four hundred were equally weary, but they pursued. Somehow they found the strength they needed. It seems they were inspired by the leadership of King David and by the word of God which came from the priest.
In times of transition it is fine if we are numbered among those who can honestly confess earthly tiredness, as long as we can still be inspired by a heavenly and Godly word.
We serve a loving God who will always provide leaders or someone, like David, to inspire us to hope again; leaders who can urge us to get up after being knocked down and encourage us to pursue; leaders who will remind us that although no one is exempt from difficulty and transition. ("Dear friends, don't be surprised when the fiery ordeal comes among you to test you as if something unusual were happening to you" (1 Pet 4:12 HSCB). We must always hear (take in) the word of God and pursue!
So despite your fatigue, keep moving; keep doing; keep being and keep pursuing.Pursue! Finish what the Lord has started in and with you (Phil 4:6). Complete your degree, raise your children, love your mate, or whatever. Just see your dreams through. Pursue.
Prayer: Lord I'm grateful that I can be honest with you. Life has its moments ofchallenge when things, stuff and people tire me out, but Lord I will not get weary in well doing (Gal 6: 9). I will pursue the goals and plans you have prepared for me. I'm confident that you will help me to finish and complete what you have started with and in me (Phi 1:6, 7), in Jesus’ Name. Amen
God's Peace and Good Journey!
+t. anthony bronner
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