Strength for the Weary

He gives strength to the weary ad increases the power of the weak. – (Isaiah 40:29, NIV)

He helps tired people be strong. He gives power to those without it. – (Isaiah 40:29, ERV)

God strengthens the weary and gives vitality to those worn down by age and care. – (Isaiah 40:29, VOICE)

This weekend, my sister, our lifelong friend, who is essentially like another sister, and I will be getting together for sister time for the first time in our adult lives. We have seen each other and spent time, but either with our spouses and or families, or for only a meal or an afternoon. Each one of us has been navigating unanticipated challenges in life and need a weekend of retreat and rest. God is gracious and kind, and I know that it is His goodness that is providing us time together, for there is such a blessing in being with those who have known and loved us for a lifetime. Already, I anticipate the goodness of gathering to strengthen our resolve, as His care is made evident through one another. There is power in knowing you are known and loved wherever you are and through whatever circumstances life brings. May we ever seek the Lord to provide us with strength and rest, and praise Him for the opportunities that He provides to fill us up.

The goodness of God,

Is made evident;

His peace provided,

Love that’s heaven sent.

He grants us His strength,

As we are shown love;

Encouragement found,

In gifts from above.

There’s nothing so sweet,

As the gift of time;

Sisters together,

God’s loving design.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You strengthen us when we are weary, and provide us peace and rest when it is needed most. Thank You for the gift of sisters. Thank You that You have designed us for community and family. Forgive us for not seizing every opportunity You provide to be present with loved ones to encourage, support and bless. Teach us how to best be present in the times that we are given to gather. Show us how to love and support one another, as You grant us rest and renewed strength. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we praise You for being our Source of strength, and for the blessing of rest and community. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. – Matthew 11:28

To Keep Keeping On

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. – (Isaiah 40:29, NIV)

He helps tired people be strong. He gives power to those without it. – (Isaiah 40:29, ERV)

He empowers the feeble and infuses the powerless with increasing strength. – (Isaiah 40:29, TPT)

 

This is the time of year that the weeks grow long and weekends seem to fly by in the blink of an eye. Weariness seeks to set in, as less daylight and cooler temperatures take a toll, with so many “need-to-dos” and seemingly fewer hours for completion. Incredibly, each time I reach the end of my own strength, God provides strength or rest or reprieve that refreshes and readies me to begin again. Yesterday, we were blessed with the opportunity to go to a hockey game with dear friends. Though the game did not go well for our team, time spent in their company was good for the soul. Today holds a quick, twenty-four-hour trip to mom’s so that we can check on things and prepare her home for freezing temperatures. We will have an added blessing of our best friends meeting up with us as well, as Leavenworth is a short, fifteen-minute drive away, and a place we will enjoy time together, while in town. God is good, and He knows what strengthens us when we are weary. May we ever seek the Lord to renew our strength and grant the power we need to accomplish all of the things to which we are called.

Mom had both physical and speech therapy yesterday. She is working hard and enjoying the therapists who come to the home and challenge her with new exercises to further propel her recovery. An additional blessing was that she slept soundly on Thursday night, which has not been the case in quite some time. For those who are faithfully praying for mom and her recovery, please add solid sleep with no wake-ups in the night, to the list. Solid sleep will aid in making mom stronger and my sister as well. Megan is juggling so many roles right now, that a good night’s sleep is always needed; hence, the more often they occur, the better she will feel and function. May His strength continue to be present when weariness creeps in.

 

When weary and worn,

The Lord grants us strength;

To keep moving on,

And traverse great lengths.

Power in weakness,

When all strength is gone;

Blessed refreshment,

To keep keeping on.

In goodness and mercy,

God lovingly gives;

All that is needed,

In His strength, to live.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You grant us strength when we are weary and power in our weakness. Thank You that when our strength ends, Yours begins. Forgive us for the times that we have allowed ourselves to wallow in our weariness, rather than turn to You to be our strength. Teach us to trust You more, as You sustain, strengthen and refresh us to do and be all that for which we are called. Show us how to love those around us in ways that strengthen, refresh and empower. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek You to be our strength so that we can love and serve as we are called to do. Amen.

 

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

 

It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. – 2 Samuel 22:33