From Exhaustion to Rejuvenation: Overcoming the Worn-Out Woman Syndrome - Part 1
At the beginning of this year, I found myself struggling with a tremendous amount of exhaustion. Spiritually, emotionally, and physically, I was just plain worn out.The events of 2007 (job loss, three months' unemployment, our planned move back "home" falling through, my health crisis and pregnancy difficulties, and adjusting to being the parents of two) had left me feeling like I was wrung out, tapped out, and zapped out. And yet, as a wife and mom of two, I couldn't just wave a white flag of surrender.
I had to keep going... but how? Surely God didn't desire for me to live at the brink of collapse, did He?
I've spent the last six months really praying and seeking the Lord with my husband concerning this, reading books on burn-out, talking with wise women, and implementing the things I was learning. By God's grace, I am no longer feeling completely wiped out; instead, I wake up most days with my old vigor and excitement for life renewed. I feel so much more at peace, so much more relaxed, have so much more energy, and am enthusiastic about what life holds!
I am far from cured from The Worn-Out Woman Syndrome (and I think true and complete freedom from this struggle will only be found in Heaven!) but I am slowly learning to detect early warning signs of exhaustion and am taking preventative measures to keep me from lapsing back into a state of extreme weariness again.
Ever since God began restoring my strength and rejuvenation, I've wanted to chronicle my journey out of exhaustion in a series on my blog. I am quite positive I'm not the only woman who has experienced this or is experiencing this and I hope that sharing my struggles and solutions might be of help to others. And so I embark on this series, From Exhaustion to Rejuvenation, a series God is still writing and I am still learning.
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How many of you are struggling with similar feelings of weariness? I believe the first step to overcoming exhaustion is to admit you are feeling it in the first place. I encourage you to truly dig deep and pour your heart and your struggles out to the Lord. Then, talk to your husband (if you are married) or a trusted Godly woman. Don't stuff your feelings of exhaustion--reach out and ask for help! That's what the Body of Christ is here for.
(By the way, if you are feeling overwhelmed and exhausted, please feel free to email me requesting prayer. I can't promise to have a chance to write back but I will promise to spend time praying for you and asking the Lord to minister to your heart as He has to mine.)
Graphic from AllPosters.com
Labels: From Exhaustion to Rejuvenation
posted by Crystal Paine at 2:00 PM
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