I’m weary. You know how it is.
It’s not just one thing. It’s more than one. It’s more than two. It’s one thing upon another. Stacking. Compounding. Until that one more thing, no matter how small, seems just too much.
I’ve been aware of the stacking – the compounding – for quite some time. I’ve dealt with it in the past, and I’ll deal with it again. But for now, I’m weary. It’s like a compounding pile of rocks. Some light. Some heavy.
Today, as I write, my brother in law is in surgery, having a lung transplant. This rock is a heavy one, and it’s been on the compounding pile of rocks for a long time. Its very presence on his stack, and on my sister’s stack, causes it to accumulate in diverse sizes on my own rising pile. It makes me weary.
Facebook and Instagram photos look lovely, but we all know, there’s quite often pain behind the smiles. My family is no different. I’ve encountered those heaping rocks many times, repeatedly, and have pushed them off, one by one, turning them over to the Lord, trusting those issues to Him. Oftentimes, when I do, I figuratively wipe my hands and smugly say, Take that, you cursed enemy. By the power of the name of Jesus. But today, those same stones – or rocks, as they’ve become, aren’t moving as easily. Because I’m weary.
You understand because it happens to you too. Sometimes it’s a recurring pebble that pops up – with your spouse’s name on it. Sometimes an entire little bag of pebbles – you know, like the bag of marbles we had when we were kids. Sometimes it’s huge – the loss of a child – or of a parent. It’s the grief that permeates and changes your life forever. It’s your child’s middle-of-the-night fever or her wicked diagnosis. It’s a learning disability or a mental illness. It’s a daughter’s addiction or a son’s waywardness. It’s the pain on your grandchild’s face and the tears in his eyes when his daddy yells and leaves the house. It’s the pain of your daughter’s singleness when she yearns for marriage. The problem burdens not just one in the family; it burdens all. You hurt not only for the burdened one but for each one who suffers – physically, mentally, emotionally. The rocks seem heavier than they once were. And they’re all stuck together. 
Sometimes they seem cemented. I’m weary from it. And I know you’re weary. I can see it behind your smile.
The enemy throws a lot of political rocks onto my stack, more as the last few years have progressed. My “friends” and community members have called me names – well, not me personally, but in general, along with anyone who has my political view. And I create my own stones on my stack, as well, having zero understanding of those who view the political issues from a different perspective. It’s all so heavy. And I become weary.
This COVID thing is just plain weighty in this pile of rocks. The COVID rocks keep appearing in various sizes and weights upon the stack: Isolation. Sickness. Death. Fear. Hate. Divisiveness. Anger. Exhaustion. Loneliness. Separation. Anxiety. Suicide. Grief. Poverty. Judgment. Depression. This is not a bag of rocks. It’s a truck full of boulders that have become ever present month after month, enveloping our birthdays, anniversaries, celebrations, travel plans, elections, and now our holidays. We boldly and bravely knock one COVID rock off our pile; another related rock appears. We’ve all become weary from it.
Here’s the thing:
On the other side of my weariness is Jesus. He’s waiting just like always. He whispers,
Kathi, I will refresh your weary soul and replenish you when you are weak. I will give you pleasant sleep. My Word sustains you. Keep it fresh in your mind. Come to me. I will give you rest.
So today, in my weariness, I go to Jesus, the one who came to give me abundant life. I turn my burdens over to Him. We know He doesn’t bring any of the burdens that are making me weary. But He gladly takes them and brings the victory – some that I see today – some that is yet unseen but promised. Either way, I have the promised rest,
What about you? For all of these things we have Jesus. If you’re a Christ follower, go to Him. Place each burden, big or small, light or heavy, on Him. Until your weariness is gone. If you’re yet uncertain if you have Jesus, turn to Him. We needn’t remain weary!
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Further reading:
Thankyou forvthis. I have been so up and down and my rocks feel like boulders in a landslide. But this reading has stopped it all and reminded me of what true faith is. Now I am lighter of my burdens and feel able to stand on my rock foundation of faith.
I am so pleased to hear this. I felt he need to open up about the “weariness” at this time, as I know most of us are affected. How I appreciate your comment, Lori. Thank you.
Also, Lori – I’ve “subscribed” you to the blog postings via email. If you don’t want to receive them, you can simply unsubscribe – or let me know. Kathi
Thank you Kathi! Very well said. I imagine many of us are “weary” of many situations in today’s world. Winter is upon us and it is a time to search for inner strength to enjoy life.
Hoping you brother in law does well with his surgery.
Trying to think positive, in the back country stacks of rock cairns mark the safe trail.
Jan, pleased you like the post. Thx. How I appreciate your analogy of the rock cairns! (I’ll use it in my writing some day!)
Thank you Kathi! Your analogy of the rock stacking speaks volumes to me. I once did a “rock walk” which involved collecting rocks of various sizes and labeling them with numerous burdens I had been carrying over time. I then prayed over each one, giving them back to Him, as I cast them one by one into a nearby lake/pond. It was so freeing! Your words are a wonderful reminder that the Lord never meant for me to carry these burdens and, once again, I need to give them back to Him. Thank you for sharing!
The rock walk sounds healing! Glad my post blessed you!
Again, Bonnie, I’m so glad the piece touched you I love the analogy you’ve shared, and hope to use it in my speaking ministry some day