Stamina
A Journey of Renewal for Your Weary Soul
by
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Day 1
It Is Okay to Not Be Okay
Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eye is wasted from grief; my soul and my body also. For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones waste away.
—Psalm 31:9–10 ESV
Your soul is tired, weary, fatigued, and exhausted. Most times when we feel weary, we feel that there is no way out. If anyone knows about the weary soul, it is David.
David was a man after God’s own heart. Yet, David was human, just like you and me. David was in the cave fighting for his life because King Saul wanted to kill him. David felt worn out, weary, stressed, and distressed. Here in Psalm 13, you can see that David’s heart was filled with anguish and sorrow. He asked God to answer his pleas. He was desperate. David needed and wanted God to rescue him. He felt deep sorrow.
How long, LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? Look on me and answer, LORD my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death, and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,” and my foes will rejoice when I fall. But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation I will sing the LORD’s praise, for he has been good to me. (Psalm 13 NIV)
Life will happen. Like David, your life can be chaotic, painful, and messy at times. There are disappointments, hurts, and hardships that are exhausting and draining. The pain is raw, brutal, and overwhelming. Most times, it feels that the pain will never end. It is okay to experience these feelings. It is okay to not be okay. You have permission to acknowledge your sorrows, weariness, exhaustion, and despair. The key is not to get stuck in those feelings. In Psalm 13 verses 5 and 6, David speaks of his confidence in God’s faithful love. Life is full of twists, turns, and detours.
Through it all, be confident that God is on your side, and everything will be okay. It may not be okay right now. It may hurt right now, but it will be okay in the end.
Day 3
Lay It All Down
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
—Matthew 11:28–29 NIV
As I sat during my quiet time, a waterfall of tears flowed down my face. I asked God, “Why has my life turned out like this? What did I do to deserve this?” My soul was overwhelmed. I was continuing to deal with hardships, heartache, and pain. There was a sharp, tense feeling in my heart. My breathing was shallow. It was in this moment that Jesus reminded me to give it all to Him. Jesus reminded me that He understands what it feels like to be overwhelmed by carrying burdens. Trust me, Jesus knows burdens. Is there a burden greater than dying to save sinful humankind? Jesus became overwhelmed with the burden of dying for us sinners. He became so overwhelmed that he asked God to remove the burden from Him,
saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” (Luke 22:42 ESV)
My sister, it is not your responsibility to carry your burdens, cares, and concerns. Carrying the dead weight, hindrances, and grievances leads to stress, depression, and oppression. The stress, depression, and oppression lead to physical ailments such as headaches, stomachaches, fatigue, lack of energy, mood swings, lack of sleep, crying spells, and lack of motivation.
Sweet sister, do it now. Lay down your cares. It is time to be open and transparent with Jesus. After all, He knows what you are going through. Jesus is waiting for you. Go to your private place and pray, wail, and cry out. Tell Jesus how hard it has been for you to carry all this weight. And then do it. Drop it! Drop all the weight and burdens. Do not hold anything back. Jesus will take it from there. He will give you rest and relief so that you can keep moving forward.
Jesus invites you to come to Him. He promises to give you rest from the weariness of your burdens and the daily burnout.
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About the Book
The burdens of life can become overwhelming, leaving you mentally exhausted, discouraged, and emotionally drained.
Stamina will take you on a journey from weariness and despair to renewal and hope. During this journey, you will:
• lay your burdens at the feet of Jesus;
• embrace God’s promises by understanding His character;
• accept and process pain, suffering, anxiety, and sorrow;
• seize opportunity by tapping into inner strength that only God can provide.
Shemeca also reflects on her personal challenges and struggles, including moments that left her feeling desperate and discouraged. She eventually learned, however, that those struggles were meant to bring her closer to God.
Through every battle, struggle, and sorrow, Jesus was there—and Shemeca learned to lay all her cares at His feet. She also learned that it is okay to not be okay. With her encouragement, you’ll learn how you, too, can lean on Jesus.
About the Author
Shemeca Richard, a Christian blogger and speaker, graduated from West Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and went on to earn a Master of Arts in behavioral sciences. She has been a qualified mental health professional for more than twenty years. As a single mother for over ten years, Shemeca has had her fair share of trial and tribulations. She loves to encourage, empower, and support women and teen girls. You can find Shemeca at www.womenofendurance.com.