Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 3:00 — 4.1MB)
PROGRAM D-7351
Do you ever get just dog tired? Our friend Fran is facing some fatigue and burnout. She’s tired, and Jesus has a few things to teach her about being tired. These fictional conversations she has with Jesus are based on scripture, and intended to teach us that Jesus is with us at all times and he does speak to us through his Word and his Spirit, if we have ears to hear.
It’s Tuesday afternoon, and Fran has just finished an intensive meeting with one of her clients. As she walks back into her office, she flops down at her desk and unloads the pile of work that is a result of the meeting. She says out loud to herself, “I’m never going to get all this done. It’s just too much!”
“Not like you to talk to yourself so negatively,” Jesus says quietly to her. As long as she and Jesus have been walking together, she still is often startled to remember that he is always there beside her, aware of everything she says or thinks.
“Oh, sorry, Lord,” Fran sits up straight, “I didn’t mean to complain, but. . .”
“But you’re tired,” Jesus says. “I understand. I was often tired, too, when I was on earth. Remember when I went sound to sleep on the boat during the storm!?”
Fran smiles. “I bet the disciples were incredulous to see you sleeping through that terrible storm. You must have been really tired.”
“I was, Fran. I’d been with people, giving so much of myself for so long—you know, even though I was fully God I was also fully Man, so my body got tired just like yours does.”
“That’s kinda hard for me to realize, Lord,” Fran says. “I mean, I can’t imagine you ever struggling with anything.”
“Fran,” Jesus replies, “I was in all ways tempted like you are? I went through every emotion, every temptation, and every frustration that you’ll ever face. I understand what it’s like to be tired.”
Fran smiles. “That really encourages me, Lord,” she says, “but how did you cope with it?”
“Well,” Jesus answers, “for one thing, when I was tired, I got some rest. There are times when nothing but some sleep will truly help. You know, when your body is overly tired, you start saying and doing things you really don’t want to say or do; you lose control.”
“Yeah, like me starting to get negative,” Fran remembers. “That’s not usually like me, but because I’m tired, I fall back into those negative ways of thinking.”
“Sure,” Jesus says, “your physical resources are drained and it’s easy to fall into those traps. Also, when you’re tired, everything looks worse than it really is—like that stack of work on your desk.”
Fran groans. “Oh,” she sighs, “one meeting with a client generated two weeks of work!”
“Two weeks?” Jesus asks. “Do you really think so, or is your mind playing tricks on you?”
“You mean, it’s not as bad as it looks right now because I’m tired,” Fran muses. “Yeah, you’re right, Lord. I just need to get home and get some rest. And that’s what I’m going to do; it’s five o’clock.” And with that she grabs her bag and heads for her car.