by Ashleigh Beason Herrington, LCMHCA
Exhaustion, a word I have heard so much lately. With students navigating virtual classes, teachers learning new methods on the fly, and parents wondering how they are going to balance their kids doing school at home, none are out of its reach. No one would have thought this pandemic would last as long as it has and affected us so intensely. And while a positive perspective can help, it isn’t if the glass half empty or half full but how long can we hold the glass. We are all exhausted and tired of holding the glass.
Exhaustion can make you feel overwhelmed and drained emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually. It can easily cause stress, irritability towards others, low motivation, lack of focus, easily fatigued, sleeping issues, destructive coping skills, and a sense of purposelessness.
While some of us approached this season as a “this is a marathon not a sprint” mentality, no one knew it would last this long with no real end in sight. The exhaustion we feel comes from trying to predict a seemingly uncertain future, a lack of structure to our day, limited opportunities for meaningful connection with loved ones, or maybe the amount of news or media we consume in a day.
So how do we recover and avoid places of exhaustion?
We create a trellis for our souls.
According to Webster’s Dictionary a trellis is “a framework of light wooden or metal bars, chiefly used as a support for fruit trees or climbing plants” in a garden. The idea is that we (like plants) are always growing and changing. But when there is no order or structure to support growth, our lives quickly begin to bear the fruit of exhaustion. What structure do you need in your life that will produce life-giving fruit (love, joy, peace, patience, etc.?). Here are some rhythms we can implement in our lives to fight back exhaustion and bear the fruit of the Spirit.
1. Practicing the Sabbath. The Sabbath is a day of rest, but is more about what you do than what you do not do. It is not just a nap after church but a day spent intentionally with the Lord. This doesn’t mean you have to read your Bible all day or visit a monastery (although you could do that if you’d like), but it means we engage in things that stir up our affections for God. What fills you up? Do those things. What drains you? Avoid those things.
2. Practicing gratitude. Right now it feels like so many things have been taken away. And while it is important to acknowledge the losses of this season, it is equally important to look for the ways God has been faithful in this season as well. Make a list of moments you are thankful for — the moon shining bright in the midst of a dark night, a small smile and laughter from a close friend, watching bubbles as you are doing the mundane of task of washing dishes. Find beauty in the ordinary because it is ever before us even in the hard times.
3. Practicing soul-care. When is the last time you slowed down long enough to evaluate your life? Who are you becoming? How have you been living? What emotions have you been experiencing most lately? While emotions don’t always communicate the reality of things, they do communicate how your body is responding to what is happening in your life. Practicing soul-care can look like journaling daily, having meaningful conversations with a friend, seeing a counselor, or doing something that gives you life.
Moving out of a place of exhaustion takes time. This is a process of daily adjusting our expectations. Give grace to yourself and to others as we are all trying to figure this out together.
The best life-giving rhythm is turning to Jesus, who is not exhausted, overwhelmed, or stressed. He carried the full weight of suffering of this broken world and he offers rest to those who would follow him. I pray the words of Jesus below would provide you with rest for your souls as you follow him.
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Jesus in Matthew 11:28-30 (English Standard Version)
