Overcoming Adversity

Why do you say, O Jacob, and complain, O Israel, My way is hidden from the LORD; my cause is disregarded by my God"? -- Isaiah 40:27

"Weariness" means to be exhausted, without will, no longer caring what happens. Weariness has to do with our perception of God. When we lose patience with God, we lose our faith in Him and give up on what we want to have or to have happen.

In the book Switch: How to Change Things when Change Is Hard the authors use the analogy of "the rider and the elephant" to illustrate the battle between knowing we need to change and actually having the desire/will to change. Weariness happens when you as the rider have to battle against your own will (the elephant) while trying to make something happen. It's an exhausting fight to take upon yourself.

It, as always, comes back to trust in God. As long as we trust in Him, we're not fighting Him to trying to force what we want. We get so weary trying to fight and overcome the storm instead of resting in the eye of the storm. Sometimes we have to start with focusing on believing in God, whether that's through speaking His words or following His actions, or whatever other guidance He gives. It calls for learning to be willing to accept the simple answer of faith -- the burden-lifting answer in Jesus over trying to shoulder the problem alone.

So how do you overcome weariness?

• Confess you're weak and helpless.
• Confess the Word of trust in God.
• Actively rest in Him.

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How do we actually/actively trust God?
How is focusing on trusting God less stressful than focusing on the storm in front of us?
What practical ways can we focus on God?