Making a list is like writing your accomplishments down before you do them.
with school projects in order to get the
important things done. Humility will let
perfection go. Sometimes the reality of
our busy lives forces perfection down a
notch. Don’t worry; God is close to the
humble and gives us even more grace.
But he giveth more grace. Where-
fore he saith, God resisteth the
proud, but giveth grace unto the
humble (James 4: 6).
The Hurdles of Weariness &
Burnout
Lack of motivation accompanies burnout, just as lack of sleep or peace accompanies lack of motivation—a vicious
cycle made worse by added guilt. We
have been running hard but now there
is a brick wall of burnout that we must
jump over. We are tired of the same old
routine.
Leap over that hurdle by changing up
the routine. What do you enjoy? Add
it to your daily or weekly schedule for
a while. What is your favorite subject
you do with your children? Do it more.
Make your kids happy by giving them
“only half” days in which they have to
complete only half their work. Not only
will they be happy, but you’ll be happy
to not hear the whining. Try a new way
of teaching. Implement that unit study
you’ve wanted to try. Try new recipes or
at least cooking double several days in
a row and freezing the rest. Do some-
thing you have meant to get around to
doing. Now is the time to mix things up
a bit, especially when you feel like giv-
ing up. Do something that will lighten
your spirit.
But they that wait upon the Lord
shall renew their strength; they shall
mount up with wings as eagles; they
shall run, and not be weary; and
they shall walk, and not faint (
Isaiah 40: 31).
Weariness can come from trials. These
trials are like resistance training. We are
building muscle so we will be stronger
the next time. Resistance training is good
for the body and soul because it grows
the spiritual muscles that are needed to
leap over walls . . . and hurdles.
For by thee I have run through a
troop; and by my God have I leaped
over a wall (Psalm 18: 29).
The Hurdle of Procrastination
I have the tendency to procrastinate
on the hard thing of pressing through
to the end, and instead take care of a
million other easy things. I put off that
hard task that will take time and concentration until it finally becomes urgent. This allows stress to settle in. One
thing I’ve learned about stress is that it
is unhealthy.
To get past this hurdle, we need the
discipline of perseverance. Sometimes
we have to purpose to stop everything
and work for a set time each day until we
are finished. Sometimes we have to stop
everything and get down to business.
Sometimes we have to stop everything
and get down on our knees in prayer.
We all would feel so much better if
we would get the difficult things off
our plates. The key is to not take on
too many difficult tasks; we must have
balance. Don’t say yes to another thing
until all the hard things that are already
on your list are taken care of. One too
many things, and we are going to spin
off the planet. Take one difficult task at
a time and persevere and press through
it. Run the race with patience and
perseverance.
. . . Let us run with patience the race
that is set before us (Hebrews 12: 1).
And let us not be weary in well do-
ing: for in due season we shall reap,
if we faint not (Galatians 6: 9).
The Hurdle of Fear
Fear is a lack of trust. Fear causes a loss
of peace and keeps us up at night. It’s a
direct attack on our relationship with
the Lord. He is full of tender mercy and
longs to give us peace. Fear causes us to
stumble because we are walking in uncertainty, like walking in darkness.
