I haven’t been writing lately. When I try to tap into that part of myself that’s inspired, I find very little. Why? Absolute weariness. Weariness can lead to many symptoms, and a lack of creativity is just one of them. It also has a tendency to take me down that dark road where I wonder why it even matters that I continue to write. That dark road of the valley of depression and despair where motivation is hard to find and positivity is fleeting

Yes, even in the life of a believer, there are times when life becomes so heavy and situations so taxing that you find yourself at the end of your rope. Because I find myself here, I started to realize I should do what I typically do: process, come, and see a way to either look at this situation from God’s perspective or perhaps find a way, with God’s help, to move through this season with grace. Unlike before, I’m not condemning myself for being here. There are very valid reasons for my bone weariness. Work demands are very high, stressful situations with team members, my father’s health struggles, and having to recognize that his passing might be sooner than I feel ready for, if one can ever be ready for that. Some health challenges of my own, probably due to the exhaustion. Financial strains and the regular daily responsibilities that are always there but now feel impossibly heavy. All of these things combined remind me that I don’t need to condemn myself or blame myself for the weariness. I recognize that life is just heavy at the moment.

Even though I don’t condemn myself for not being stronger, I’m still not sure how to cope. It’s like I have a bill to pay that’s higher than the amount of money in my account to pay it. There’s nothing I can do inside of myself to make up the difference. So it goes unpaid, and the need remains. But does it have to? That’s what I’m asking myself today: do I have to stay weary, or is there another answer?

This brought my mind to Jesus asleep in the middle of the raging storm. It brought my mind to Paul and Silas singing praises when they were beaten and shackled inside that prison. And it brings my mind to so many other saints who had praised and found peace in circumstances much worse than my own. How can I find that place of rest when I don’t even have the strength to lift my own arms for help?

My mother reminded me of Moses in the Old Testament during the battle when he held his arms up and the victory continued to be on Israel’s side. But when his arms grew weary and started to fall, the battle began to be lost. What was the answer for him? He had help—those who came alongside him and held up his arms so the battle would be won. I realized there are moments when we cannot raise our own arms, when our strength has been sapped and we need help. For the battle to be won, we need help. As humbling as it might be, I need to reach out, even just to a few, and ask to be lifted up in prayer for strength and peace. Why is it that people either feel entirely willing to share everything they think is wrong or share absolutely nothing because we should be stronger and shouldn’t have needs? Perhaps we don’t share because we’re not sure exactly what we need—there’s just so much, and we can’t really explain it. The Bible tells us to cast all our cares on Christ, for He cares for us, and it also tells us to bear each other’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ. It says if anyone is sick or in need, they should call for the elders of the church and have them pray for them. Are we bringing our needs to the Lord? Am I?

Am I doing what they do in Psalms when they lamented the weariness and frustration of life but marveled at the greatness of God? Am I willing to admit that right now I have no strength and even the song in my heart seems much quieter, and I don’t exactly know how to get free of this? Am I asking the few that I trust to hold me up in prayer, and am I being real when someone asks if I’m okay? Are you? If you feel like me, absolutely worn out, are you being honest and open? Are you letting the body of Christ know how they can support you?

The path forward, I see now, is simple. I have to honestly reach out, lean into the Lord, and lean into the body of believers around me. I cannot think that in my own strength this battle will be won. I wasn’t meant to run this race on my own, and sometimes I need somebody else who’s running to look over and say, “Hey, keep going. Let me take that burden from you so you can run easier.” Maybe you feel very much like me. Let’s try a new way. Let others help hold your arms up when you can’t find the strength in yourself, like Christ and His Holy Spirit through the love and encouragement of those around you, infusing you with a second wind, a little extra when your tank is empty. Be honest and real, but always remember to stay hopeful because there is help to be had. We are not like those who face the heaviness of life, as it tends to become very heavy at times, without aid or assistance. We are those who have a Savior, a Father, a true friend in Christ. We are those who have a body of Christ to support, encourage, and love us. We are those who are one part of a whole, and we should recognize that and act that way. If you’re hurting, if you’re weary, if you’re tired, it affects more than just you. You don’t have to stay there. You have others who will come alongside you, walk with you, lift you up, and encourage you, showing you that there is a pathway back up once again. Or who can take part of the weight so you can still walk but rest.

Life will never not be challenging. The tasks we face will always require energy and at times tax our strength to the point where we’re on empty. But God and His family, the support and love that He has and wants to lavish on us, is even greater than we could ever imagine. Start today. Stop trying to be strong enough and let someone else hold up your arms.