Nothing left to give.

     You've been there. I've been there. We've ALL been there. Your body is tired, and your mind is consumed with frustration. Your hands are clutched against your chest because you've got nothing left to hand out to anyone else. Your head hangs in complete weariness, yet it takes NO effort whatsoever to sit and allow the tears to flow.  If one more person asks for something, one more this or one more that....you just might scream....if only you had the strength. Between breaths you fight against the complete debilitation that preys on you. Hiding would be easier, it would hurt less, and maybe you could just rest. You're scared. You're worried. Why? Because you want nothing more than to just let go. Your heart whispers the prayer, "Please Lord, just don't let anyone ask for anything else because I have nothing left to give." 

      In those moments, when you doubt your sanity and being overwhelmed feels like the only option, what do you do? Better yet, where do you go? When it seems like NOTHING is going your way and nobody understands everything YOU have to do, what to do you do? Sacrifice....nobody gets sacrifice like you do... They couldn't possibly understand that, right?! And yet, they keep asking, the world keeps expecting, and life keeps waiting. You're weak and tired, and you don't want to be in the middle of doing what's best for you and what's expected of you anymore. And your heart again whispers, "Please Lord, just don't let anyone ask for anything else because I have nothing left to give." 

     Maybe you get mad and snarky with others. After all, THEY keep asking, right? Or maybe you run away to a place or an addiction. Some of us shut down completely, and when we shut down we usually shut out. In these moments, there's plenty of blame, hurt, lack of reason, and shame to throw around, isn't there? We say things we don't mean, we do things we don't normally do, or we refuse to do what we're still very capable of doing. Who feels this? Your family? Friends? Colleagues? Maybe all of them. It's not fair, is it? And your heart again whispers the prayer, "Please Lord, just don't let anyone ask for anything else because I have nothing left to give." 

    From a young age, we're told that "it is better to give than to receive." I'm not arguing that at all! But nowhere in that saying does it say "it is better to give and never receive." I'm not talking about receiving gifts, people doing things for you, or the like. I'm talking about asking for and receiving rest. Taking rest. Taking peace. Taking renewal. When we've reached the point where we just have "nothing left to give" and just feel deflated and feeble, it's usually because we've done more giving than receiving. We get so caught up in giving that we neglect to take. It's an imbalance that will flatten you if you're not careful. For me, I collapse in this heap when I'm doing a lot of giving and not enough taking. 

     Our Father promises that He will never leave us. He vowed in his word to give when we need to take. He will take your exhaustion and give you rest. He will take your tired soul and breath revival into it. He takes away weakness and gives strength. He takes overwhelmed, frustrated, and chaos and gives peace, OH that sweet peace! And in the quiet, you'll hear His sweet voice say, "Please child, just ask it of me because I have so much more to give."

I have chosen you and not cast you off; fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you in my righteous right hand.  

                                                                                         -Isaiah 41:10

https://youtu.be/UGhmvNGFENE