The real meaning behind being worn out

The email went something like this ‘I’m worn out, frustrated and I don’t know what to do. This has gone on too long; it’s eating me up inside’. Oh Lord, my heart melts! When God’s people are feeling stuck and low, my whole instinct is run in and pull them out of it! You are not ever designed to be in that place.

Over the last five years or so of coaching this is one area of transformation I never get tired of. When the mind is refreshed, renewed and there is a confidence, a knowing of what to do that has emerged. When I see that in clients, I know that God is at work.

Being worn out is no joke. It’s physical, it’s mental, it’s spiritual. Sometimes the tiredness permeates everything you do and without rest you’re in real danger of ‘breaking’ in some way. I lived it.

Three children, three years in a row, my husband building a new business, I was starting a new business, involved in the ministry; emotional, tired and trying to do all the things.

In that time of heaviness God spoke to me and said ‘choose’. So I chose to put my mind and being into Him, into His word, into actions of faith.

It changed my life.

What is happening, when you feel worn out!?

Let me share something with you from Daniel 7:25. This chapter is Daniels vision which reveals:

1. four kingdoms on the earth
2. their destruction and replacement by the Kingdom of God
3. Jesus before the throne being honoured
4. and then end-times events.

These events include war with the saints (that’s you and me) from the little horn that emerged out of the beast with the ten horns. This is prophetic language but it doesn’t need super spiritual translation.

What it does mean is that you and I have to know exactly what is coming and what is now, it’s war, spiritually and physically. And even though God sees all, he has given you and me all the tools to fight, to be strong, to know what to do!

But notice this line:

 'And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall WEAR OUT the saints of the most High…'

Now, those who did the study of Prayer with me, you know I don’t just read the words, I study them.

So I got out my study materials (click the link to get the free download of what they are) and dug in to discover what does that mean.

How will he wear us out?

The word ‘wear’ in the original Chaldee language is ‘bela’ and it’s used only in a mental sense, it means to afflict.

So, this enemy is going to mentally wear you out, wear you down, afflict you so you don’t even fight and potentially you fall away from God.

This is what 2 Thessalonians 2 talks about, in the same context of end-times. 

When you are worn out you're in danger!

Satan’s goal is to get you out of your inheritance with God. The trouble is, so many Christians are so busy living their natural life, building their business, raising their family and all that stuff, and not fixed and focused on what God desires.

When you’re out of alignment with your thinking and your priorities, you give space to be ‘afflicted’. It’s just a spiritual fact.

 'For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit' Romans 8:5

The word mind here, in the Greek original text’, is phroneo. It’s meaning is described as this:

'to exercise the mind that is entertain or have a sentiment or opinion; by implication to be (mentally) disposed (more or less earnestly in a certain direction); intensively to interest ones in (with concern or obedience).'

Or a little further in verse 7;

 'Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God neither indeed can be'

What is the carnal mind?

It’s the human nature with its frailties and passions. It’s all the ‘stuff’ that is in this life.

When your mind is focused there, when your mental inclination and purpose, is busy outside of listening to the Spirit of God and living the life with God in it, then you put yourself in this place where you can be worn out and misdirected.

And in fact, end up in enmity with God. Enmity meaning; opposition, even hatred and hostility, towards God. 

But we are encouraged by Peter to ‘gird up the loins of your mind’ (1 Peter 1:13) which means put some deep thought, exercise the faculty of your mind and its disposition, in Jesus.

Paul tells Timothy (and us), God has not given you a spirit of fear but of power (force, miraculous power), love (affection or benevolence) and a sound mind (2 Tim 1:7). Sound mind being the discipline of self-control!

It's up to you to do something about it.

All of this is telling you, you are responsible for your mind, to not allow yourself to get weary in your thinking or in well doing. You are being taught, protect your mind. Do not let this enemy come and ‘wear you out’ mentally so you withdraw from God.

Renew your mind! Put on the helmet of salvation. Be intentional, deliberate, focused on filling your mind with the thoughts, imaginations, learnings of walking with God.

This will transform your life and impact your family, your business, your energy levels and what you accomplish for God.

 And never forget the beautiful words in Isaiah 26:3:

'You shall keep him/her in perfect peace who mind is stayed on you because they trust you'.