Weary: Five Minute Friday

Another week, another chance to write on a one-word prompt for only five minutes. We set timers, type quickly, and let it flow without criticism. Then, we link-up our posts so we can read others' posts and they read ours and we have a community that grows from one word each week.
Five Minute Friday.

Go!

This week's prompt is Weary.
With winter on the horizon and one less hour of daylight, naps are a natural tendency. Our bodies want to hibernate if we live in climates where the four seasons still exist.

What a blessing it has been to have been traveling through the book of Psalms for the last 2 1/2 months. For it is in the Word of God that I find strength to overcome weary thoughts and attitudes.

I equate the word weary with discouraged. Battling the loss of strength, hope, and vigor is a difficult task indeed. We face physical challenges, emotional challenges, mental, social and spiritual challenges. We can easily become weary if we look to those ups and downs to satisfy us within.

Psalm 42 gives some hope and perspective: (I have substituted the word "weary" for the word "discouraged")

¹ As the deer longs for streams of water,
    so I long for you, O God.
² I thirst for God, the living God.
    When can I go and stand before him?
³ Day and night I have only tears for food,
    while my enemies continually taunt me, saying,
    “Where is this God of yours?”

⁴ My heart is breaking
    as I remember how it used to be:
I walked among the crowds of worshipers,
    leading a great procession to the house of God,
singing for joy and giving thanks
    amid the sound of a great celebration!

⁵ Why am I weary?
    Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
    I will praise him again—
    my Savior and ⁶ my God!

Now I am deeply weary,
    but I will remember you—
even from distant Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan,
    from the land of Mount Mizar.
⁷ I hear the tumult of the raging seas
    as your waves and surging tides sweep over me.
⁸ But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me,
    and through each night I sing his songs,
    praying to God who gives me life.

⁹ “O God my rock,” I cry,
    “Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I wander around in grief,
    oppressed by my enemies?”
¹⁰ Their taunts break my bones.
    They scoff, “Where is this God of yours?”

¹¹ Why am I weary?
    Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
    I will praise him again—
    my Savior and my God!

Many of the link-up writes will most likely include Isaiah 40:29-31 or Galatians 6:9. I wanted to include something else that would bring new life in the light of those amazing promises. They are valid and hope-filled, but tonight, I encourage you to see that whether your life is full of affirmation or condemnation from others, if your hope is in God, then your identity and value and worth will be centered for eternity. You will not need the affirmations nor will you be devastated by the condemnations.
Is God your rock?
Psalm 43 continues with the same chorus, and states that God is the source of all my joy!!!

¹ "Declare me innocent, O God!
    Defend me against these ungodly people.
    Rescue me from these unjust liars.
² For you are God, my only safe haven.
    Why have you tossed me aside?
Why must I wander around in grief,
    oppressed by my enemies?
³ Send out your light and your truth;
    let them guide me.
Let them lead me to your holy mountain,
    to the place where you live.
⁴ There I will go to the altar of God,
    to God—the source of all my joy.
I will praise you with my harp,
    O God, my God!

⁵ Why am I weary?
    Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
    I will praise him again—
    my Savior and my God!"

I pray you are lifted up by God tonight and encouraged and hopeful. For He is the lifter of your head. 

The first song that popped in my head begins with the lyrics
"Oh soul, are you weary and troubled?"
The chorus?
"Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus"

Just as He's been saying. Look to Him. :)
~Tammy

P.S. Please list your url or your linkup number if you'd like me to read your post. I'm not on bloglovin so I don't always know how to find you! :D