I'm Tired

by Authentic Manhood

The other day I worked around the house all day. I got to go to Home Depot not once but twice, and yes, I consider that a good thing. I got to use a circular saw to cut wood and use a hammer. When I was done I was tired - and it was good.

It seems to me that every conversation with every adult that I have usually starts like this: “How’re you doing?”, and they reply “I’m good, but, man I’m so tired”. Here is the realization that I have come to: we live in a broken world and we are going to get tired.

For us men, it is part of our curse. We see this in Genesis 3:19, that because of the fall we will work for our whole lives and it will make us tired. Being tired is part of being a grown up, but what I have noticed through my time as a pastor is this: why you are tired is what matters. Are you tired because you worked hard and served Jesus, or are you tired because of sin?

Sin is one of the most tiring things on the planet. Early on in my marriage I did not handle money well, and instead of planning how to respectfully use what God had blessed me with I went out and bought a brand new car. Now, buying a new car is not a sin, but wanting more than what God had for me was a sin (called covetousness), and I was guilty of that. Eventually the money ran out and I stayed awake night after night thinking about how I was going to provide for my family. Sin makes you tired.

There is, however, a way you can be tired but fulfilled, and I believe that is what God has for us in this life. We see in Matthew 11 that Jesus provides hope for all of us who are tired when He says;

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:29-30 ESV)

The image here is not that Jesus doesn’t want us to work or that we will not be tired, but instead it is pointing us toward the fact that He gives us the rest we need and that His yoke and burden are much lighter than wearing the Enemy’s.

My question for you is whose yoke are you carrying: Jesus’ or sin’s? This will determine if you are tired for the right reasons.