Recent surveys have found people are suffering from collective weariness. COVID, world events, political divisions, and a host of other factors in the last few years have caused an uptick in depression and other mental health issues; counselors and psychiatrists have seen an increase in calls and appointments and the numbers of people reporting they are sick and tired of (fill in the blank) are up. One survey I read listed the “ongoing impact of COVID-19” as the number one concern over health issues, immigration, education, and finances. While this is not new the effects are similar.
A farmer in the Roman Empire who wondered how to support his family during a drought isn’t much different than a steelworker who loses his job. The difference is the steelworker has access to various benefits or helps not available to a Roman farmer in 85 AD. But the worry caused by fear of the future is the same. Isaiah 40 famously ends with, “Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
In prophesying a future that was anything but hopeful Isaiah still had a message of hope. God wasn’t done with Israel any more than He was done with people in ancient Rome or is done with modern America or the world in general. Like the Facebook meme says, “If you’re hanging on by a thread make sure it’s the hem of His garment.” This echoes a story in the Gospels where a desperately sick woman managed to touch Jesus’ cloak and was healed. His loving and gracious words to her were, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace” (Luke 8:48).
C.S. Lewis observed that because God is eternal He sees past, present, and future all at once. NOTHING surprises Him; He sees it all in real time. This is why Christians speak confidently of God’s forgiveness and how He can redeem the failures of our past, present, and future. God brings “beauty from ashes” (Isaiah 61:3) in ways we never could. This is not to say we don’t get overwhelmed by weariness, despair, pain, grief, and fear. God knows we do; really, He knows we do. His Son Jesus literally lived it in the flesh. He “remembers we are dust” (Psalm 103:14) and came down to us in Christ to give us a strength we can’t find on earth. If you are weary and worn, Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). He is there, He is waiting, He will receive and welcome you.