Yes, I know, but I forgot. It’s often what you know and have forgotten that will help you most in your troubles. If you could see my desk, you would understand why I was having such a hard time facing the new morning. I had stacks of important papers that needed to be filed, mixed between stacks of books I have been using for research, along with personal notes and ideas for future projects, and honestly who knows what else was lingering in the mess. I forced myself to get a load of laundry started and drug my weary bones to the elliptical machine to exercise. What didn’t make sense was that I had two whole weekends free of major events. Rather than use them to catch up and get organized, I wasted the hours away, doing only what I had to do. So Monday morning came and my hopes of all I would accomplish over the weekend smacked me in the face, as I pushed away the mess.

On Monday morning I asked myself, Why? Why did I waste all those hours? Whywas I so unmotivated? The next weekend I was out of town and would comeback needing to crawl out of a higher pit. I concluded that I had had a fun butbusy vacation that wore me out in my middle age. I hadn’t been sick likelast year. I had traveled the same miles and it didn’t affect me this way.I had gotten sleep, rest was not the problem. Well, maybe I’m just plainold lazy and that is why my stacks of work are threatening to rival Jack’sBeanstalk. That answer doesn’t fit with my personality. I really tried,and as I said, I did a lot of things that I have to do with the time.

In the midst of this complaining I sat down to have some time with God. He directed me to Isaiah 40:27-31, Why do you say, O Jacob, and complain, O Israel, My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God? Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. It was like healing ointment to my soul. I don’t have to figure out WHY; I just need to remember WHO.

Even young men stumble and fall. It is inevitable as an imperfect creation of God that I will miss the mark, but when I find myself feeling that way, I should not offer the question Why?, but cry Help, Lord! I can recognize my weakness and unburden my soul by simply remembering Who never grows tired or weary and the One Who knows the Whys. He is the One who will give me strength and power. Suddenly, I recognize that even though the weekend is gone, there are hours in the evenings when, with God’s help. I can tackle the mess. Even if it multiplies ten-fold, it can never become too overwhelming for Him.

Oh, and did I mention in the midst of my despair, I didn’t have a devotional for today? It looks like I do now. He does help me soar!