When You’re Just Plain Tired of Stuff

Did I tell you my laptop was stolen?  And my new car got recalled?  And my cell phone crashed?  All in the same week.

Word to the wise:  don’t come near me for the time being. There. You’ve been warned.

Truthfully, I  handled the laptop thing pretty well. The car recall sent me right up to the edge, but I still maintained my composure. The cell phone issue (complete with a two hour stint at the Apple store one night and and hour the next morning) left me dangerously close to careening over said edge.

And isn’t that just the way it goes?  One thing, on top of another thing, on top of another thing and we’re ready to topple.

Except there was simply nothing I could do to change things. So there I sat, broken cell phone in hand, feeling my stress level rise as the minutes passed, the hands on the clock inching toward the moment the Apple store would close. It was late and I just wanted to be home. Please, would someone help me fix this crashed cell phone? I whispered to no one in particular.

I felt dangerously close to crashing, myself.

The week’s events left me tired. Tired of inconvenience. Tired of waiting. Tired of being patient and kind and understanding. Just plain tired. And my circumstances were’t even life-altering ones; just daily inconveniences that happened to occur in rapid-fire succession.

I’m guessing your life isn’t much different from mine. You probably have your share of inconveniences, annoyances and stress. Maybe you’ve even had to deal with some real heartbreak or devastation, recently. You may feel like someone has stolen more than your computer–they’ve stolen your joy. Perhaps you feel like your sense of worth has been recalled. Or maybe your heart lays broken, unable to function like it once did.

Whatever the circumstance, there is a fix.  It’s not always quick or easy, but it is always sure.

Jesus says “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened….and you will find rest for your souls.”  In essence, Jesus says, “Are you tired?  Come to me because I care and I can help.”  Going to Jesus with a life that’s not functioning properly is as wise as going to the Apple store with a phone that’s not functioning properly. More. Way more.

It’s the way we take care of our souls. And let me tell you, when life comes at us fast and furious and messy, our souls need some tender loving care.  So do our bodies and our minds, by the way.

Recently more than just a few women have told me how overwhelmed they feel with their current life circumstances.  I get it.

But here’s what I don’t get:  these very same women refuse to take time to care for their souls.  What is it, exactly, that they think will happen if they don’t take care of their souls?  I’m not trying to be harsh.  Just realistic.

Do you want to know why my car was recalled? (Stay with me. I’m going somewhere with this…).  An air bag problem. If exposed to extreme temperatures or sudden impact, my air bag could randomly explode with unusual force, causing injury or death.

You know what happens in the life of a woman whose weary, burdened soul isn’t properly maintained?  If exposed to extreme temperatures or sudden impact she randomly explodes. With unusual force.

You know exactly what I’m talking about.

Maybe you need to be recalled.  Or more accurately, maybe you need a recall-ing.

A recalling of who you are. Of who God is. Of what life is really all about.

Half our frustration with the inconveniences and disappointments in life comes from our efforts to control things we can’t, combined with the little effort most of us give to control the thing we can: a response born out of a well cared for soul. I speak from personal experience.

The solution is to stop trying to control the things I can’t and start trying to control the thing I can: namely, me.  The scriptures don’t ever talk about circumstance control, they do, however talk about self-control. My job is make sure I’m trying to control the right thing (myself) they right way (with Jesus).

[bctt tweet=”The scriptures don’t ever talk about circumstance control but they do talk about self-control.” username=”donnajonesspeak”]

So if your soul could use a little tender care (I know mine does on a regular basis) try one of these suggestions:

1. Take 5 minutes to read a Bible passage (suggestions Jeremiah 29:11, Matthew 6:26, 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, Peter 5:5-7, Philippians 3:12-14.) Personalize each one by putting your name at the beginning. Reflect on how God speaks intimately to you.
2. Spend 2 minutes doing nothing but thanking God for His presence in your life, His gifts in your life and His purpose for your life.
3. Go on a walk.  Listen to praise music or a sermon on www.oneplace.org.
4. Treat yourself to a favorite drink at your favorite coffee shop or go to a park, beach or space that feeds your soul. Grab a journal and pen (any piece of paper or even a napkin will do!) and write out your prayers.
5. Take a nap (Jesus did!)
6. Find someone older, wiser or further along in her spiritual journey and ask for her best advice.