Five Minute Friday scribblings, Living with Intention

Weary: The Cure For Weary

Jeanne Takenaka

Red leaves

By +Jeanne Takenaka @JeanneTakenaka

Our Five Minute Friday prompt this week is—WEARY. This largely unedited “rough draft” form of writing stretches this perfectionist, in the best of ways. I write for five minutes on a given topic. If you’re interested in learning more about 5-Minute Fridays, check out our hostess, Kate Motaung’s site. Or, click on the link at the bottom of this post. As you read my simpler Friday posts, I hope you’ll join in the conversation!

WEARY

I’ve been running on weary for years. In my late forties, my body is beginning to say, “Enough!”

I won’t go into details, but I’m having issues now that my doctor can’t give me a cure for. No pills will fix my problems.

No, it’s not cancer, just inconvenient tough-to-deal with/get-my-head around issues.

My doctor’s answer?

Rest.

Sun Shimmers

In a busy culture, as a wife, a mom of two preteen boys, a friend, a writer, an involved person . . . life can make me downright weary with all its demands.

Rest.

If I want to have a hope of getting things better for my body, I need to be intentional about incorporating rest into my daily life.

It’s HARD. I want to run at my crazy pace and accomplish lots each day.

But sometimes, we accomplish more when we give our bodies, our spirits, our minds a rest.

When we come away with Jesus for awhile.

When we choose stillness over productivity? That’s when refreshment comes.

Saying no to one more thing can be the most productive thing we do.

Talking with the Lord about this, I’m seeing that His edict for a Sabbath was pretty smart (imagine that).

He knew when He created us that our bodies required downtime.

When I don’t give myself downtime, or enough sleep, or mind-breaks during the day, I end up weary. And my body rebels with its symptoms.

Red Maple Leaf

If I want a truly productive life—living my days well rather than speedy—I need to be willing to yield my will to God’s plan. I must give my body, every part of who I am, time for rest.

When we rest in Jesus’ plan, weariness dissipates in the midst of renewed energy, creativity, and joy.

What about you? How are you doing at giving yourself rest? How do you combat complete weariness in your life?

I’m linking up with Kate Motaung’s Five Minute Friday. Read her post here—Weary

Published by Jeanne Takenaka

Award winning aspiring novelist, Jeanne Takenaka, writes contemporary inspirational fiction that tackles real life issues with a heart to draw women closer to God and those around them. She lives near the mountains in Colorado with her amazing husband and two exuberant boy-men. She loves being God’s girl—always learning about His grace, hanging out with friends and enjoying a great cup of coffee. When she’s not writing you can find her with a camera in her hand, looking for #alittlebitofpretty in her days.

40 thoughts on “Weary: The Cure For Weary”

    1. I know some things about Sabbath, but I may do a study to better understand it. Nothing like a health situation to re-orient our perspectives and priorities, eh? 🙂 Thanks so much for stopping by. Have a great weekend!

      Like

    1. Andrew, I haven’t listened to The Cure in ages. I’m glad you shared that song. It’s upbeat, and the video is . . . wildly fun. Sorry I didn’t have a universal Cure for weary, but it’s the answer for where I’m at right now. 🙂 Praying for you, friend.

      Like

  4. Isn’t it SO hard to allow ourselves to relax, even when God recommends that to us? I too am learning to say no to things, but as of yet, do not feel more rested because of it! Prayers for your rest and that He renews your mind and body!
    (parked in the number 7 spot, FMF)

    Like

    1. Carol, it IS hard to choose to relax. Saying no seems to be a discipline and a practice we have to incorporate. After we do it for a little while, then we begin to feel a little more free, a little less stressed, and hopefully, a little more rested. The way I see it, it takes time to get to the place of worn down, so it will take time to get to a place of refreshed. What do you think?

      Like

  5. Rest is so hard yet so important for our bodies. It’s so easy to just go go go. But Jesus even tells us to come and he will give us rest. Perhaps we need to be better at remembering his words. I’m parked in the 6 spot this week.

    Like

    1. I agree, Tara. I almost wrote on Mt 11:28-30, but I figured lots of other people would. 🙂 But I love that Jesus tells us, the weary and heavy-laden to come to HIM so He can give us rest. Thankfully as long as we have breath, we can begin the practice, right, Tara?

      Like

  6. Jeanne,
    blessed are those who rest, for they shall be like Mary and not Martha. 😉 No, that’s not a direct quote, but I think you’ve got the spirit of it. Thank you for such a great post again! Yours was to “Be Still and Know” that God is God and He can handle all our concerns and just wants to spend time with us. That centering, that turning our eyes to Him first, yes. That is where He’s taking me too.
    So happy you’re back!
    Love,
    Tammy
    (rounding out the first dozen at number 12 tonight)

    Like

    1. Yes, Tammy. Be still and know. I pray that verse every night as I lay my head on my pillow. Now to begin practicing it more throughout each day. I’m so thankful Jesus cares about our concerns. And the fact He wants to spend time with us?! Floors me every time I consider it. 🙂

      Like

  7. “When we choose stillness over productivity? That’s when refreshment comes.
    Saying no to one more thing can be the most productive thing we do.” <– Oh THIS, my friend! So much this! Yes and Amen! I realized this afternoon (although I still did not DO it…) that I have pushed aside my practice to sitting in silence for five minutes each day in the mornings… I intend to get right back in to that habit because it ushered in such rest, and that IS the cure for weariness, you are right! Great post!

    Like

    1. I like the idea of sitting in silence for five minutes each morning, Karrilee. That’s a great way to begin the day. I’m trying to instill the practice of 30 seconds of stillness before we eat our meals. It’s not easy with two boys around the table. 🙂 Stillness has its value, no doubt. Thanks so much for stopping by!

      Like

  8. “When we rest in Jesus’ plan, weariness dissipates in the midst of renewed energy, creativity, and joy.” Amen! Not my plan but Jesus’ plan. If I can just remember that in the midst of my self-imposed busy.

    Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

    Like

  9. Visiting from FMF, but also recognize you from incourage.me! Thank you for these words. Oh how easy it is not to stop and rest, truly rest. I discovered that running this morning: just how much I yearn to be alone with God. Only God can give us the rest we crave, physically and emotionally. Praying you will be refreshed in His Love and Strength this weekend and week to come. God bless you for encouraging others in your words.

    Like

    1. Anna, I’m so thankful you stopped by! I agree, it’s so easy to push through, rather than to stop and rest. And, when we stay on the go all the time, I believe we begin to lose our connection with God. He is the only One who can fill us physically and emotionally. Thanks for the prayers. I’ll pray the same for you. 🙂

      Like

  10. Saying no is so hard, isn’t it? Especially when you have a family to help navigate life while making sure you’re steering is straight. And rest….not in our culture. I’m guilty of the busy that is more like a hamster wheel, not going anywhere but fooling ourselves. Thanks for your gentle reminder God has given us a better way.

    Like

    1. Debby, wow you nailed me. I’m so good at steering the wheel while cooking, checking homework, writing, helping other people, etc. But, I don’t know that God intended us to be always on the go. I’ve done the hamster-wheel run too. I’m curious to see what it feels like to be off the hamster wheel. I’m so thankful for your words today.

      Liked by 1 person

    2. Saying no is so hard for me! I want my kids to experience things or I want to connect with other moms or just get out of the house. The other day we stayed inside all day and it was so needed! We reset and were refreshed. So hard to just say no, but I’m always encouraged by the results.

      Like

      1. You are in the throes of wearying motherhood, Annie. It seems like each decision is so big, yet not. I think we each feel our ways through this phase of mothering. I love those stay-home-all-day days. 🙂 I’m glad you got one this week!

        Like

  11. I KNOW about illness that stops you. I battled hormone imbalance, adrenal stress and low thyroid for YEARS! I was SO tired all the time. Praise God, I found someone that helped! Another thing we seem to have in common Jeanne. parked in the 56 spot today

    Like

    1. Wow, Christy, I had no idea we had this in common too. Yeah, the low thyroid, dealing with that now. I guess it can be a good thing to be forced to slow down. At the moment, I am still adjusting my mind to grasp the good in the fact that I NEED more rest. It’s hard to change my mindset. I’m so glad you stopped by. 🙂

      Like

  12. I had an answer and decided it was worth a blog. 🙂 Good sharing Jeannie. I often wondered how you do it all. Time to listen to Jesus and have a quiet time every day as a priority. He loves you and so do I!

    Like

    1. I’ve given up trying to do it all, Mom. 🙂 I’m learning to do things in seasons and to always seek Jesus first. Yes, time to listen to Him and spend time with Him is a priority. Love you too!

      Like

  13. Jeanne, hoping I can leave a comment this time…..I’m hoping you’re learning how to rest (like any habit, it takes effort to learn to rest)……your body is sending you a message loud and clear that you need to start listening to it. Everything else you need to do comes second place to taking care of yourself…..you can’t be anything for anyone else if you’re not OK yourself. Take the time you need and get yourself better. Thinking of you and wishing you the best over the next few weeks and months. Helen P.S. I know I always harp on about meditation but I’ve really found it changed my life – quite literally – and does wonders for my stress levels and my ability to rest….it somehow just slows me down….enough so that I’m more conscious of everything. Do give it a try if you can (Deepak Chopra and Oprah have a free session ongoing at the moment…it’s been going for a week and will go on for another 14 days or so…..just 20 minutes a day…..it’d be one of the best investments of time you could make in yourself…..I’m 100% sure…)…..

    Like

    1. Helen, you’re right. My body is sending me a message, and that’s part of what inspired my post today. 🙂 I’m praying through and figuring out how to best do life from here. God is gracious to give me nudges through friends like you to be willing to make the changes. 🙂 I will look into the meditation sessions you offered. Thank you for caring. 🙂

      Like

      1. Hoping you did manage to check out (and do!) the meditation sessions; I’m absolutely convinced they will help….hoping you’re having a better week…(although it’s been a horrific few days, grappling with the news out of Paris)…..thinking of you…Helen xxx

        Like

  14. I am learning to rest by setting priorities for my day and making sure that in the morning I’m waking up early enough to have time with Him before I rush in to the day ahead. It gives me a better perspective and keeps me more focused in the day. Thank you for sharing these words with us! You always have a way of putting things back into perspective! Happy Friday to you! (stopping by from FMF #52)

    Like

    1. Rachel, deciding what your priorities are for the day is a great way to combat weariness. When we can focus on the important, we won’t become worn down by doing the non-essential in the day. And yes, time spent with Jesus first always helps me too. Have a wonderful weekend!

      Liked by 1 person

  15. It’s hard to rest when all one can see is things to do, but God has promised we will get ‘refreshed’ if we rest in him. So we must take the time. Hang in there.

    Like

    1. I agree, Sharon. It’s hard to turn off the mental to-do list in my mind too. Rest is crucial, isn’t it? I’m redefining what rest needs to look like for my life now. It’s going to take some time and probably a few times of bumping my head against the wall, but I’ll get there. 🙂 Thanks so much for stopping by!

      Like

  16. “Running on weary.” I feel like I’m in the midst of that. I so easily attribute it to our season in parenting – which is partially true. But, even in the midst of crazy infant and toddler life, I need to remember to rest and to breathe. Thanks for this reminder.

    Like

    1. Heidi, I guess I’m in good company then. I’ve ebbed and flowed with knowing when to say no to the good things. The Best Yes is a great book. 🙂 I appreciate you stopping by!

      Like

Comments are closed.