Are You Dangerously Tired?
Irritability or hypersensitivity. Do things that normally wouldn't bother you (such as a child's mistake, another driver cutting you off in traffic, or a coworker's irritating habit) put you over the edge?
Restlessness. During waking hours are you aware of a vague sense that something isn't quite right or an even stronger feeling of wanting to bolt from your life? When it's time to rest, do you find yourself unable to settle down and sit quietly or fall asleep?
Compulsive overworking. Do you struggle with work boundaries? Do you check email late into the evening? Are you unable to unplug completely to go on vacation? Do you struggle to enter into solitude or spend uninterrupted time with family?
Emotional numbness. Do you feel you aren't able to really feel anything emotionally—good or bad? And if you did, are you afraid you would be overwhelmed?
Escapist behaviors. When you do have a break in the action, do you find yourself succumbing to escapist behaviors (compulsive eating, drinking, or other substance abuse, spending, television, pornography, surfing the internet)? Do you feel you don't have the energy to choose activities that are life giving (exercising, going for a walk or bike ride, connecting meaningfully with friends and family, enjoying a hobby or interest like playing an instrument, cooking, painting, drawing, writing poetry, playing sports, working with our hands, reading a good book)?
Disconnected from our identity and calling. Do you go through the motions of doing ministry but feel disconnected from a true sense of who you are and what God is calling you to do? Are you at the mercy of other people's expectations and your own inner compulsions because you lack an internal plumb line against which to measure these demands?
Not able to attend to human needs. Do you feel you don't have time to take care of basic human needs such as exercise, eating right, sleeping enough, going to the doctor, having that minor (or major) surgery we need? Do even simple things such as getting the car washed, picking up the dry cleaning, or staying organized seem impossible to accomplish? Do you sense that your most important relationships (family and friends) are routinely being short-changed?
Hoarding energy. Do you have the inner experience of always feeling threatened, as though exposing yourself to additional people or situations would drain the last of your energy or the energy you're trying to conserve for what you think is important? Are you overly self-protective and even reclusive in your attempts to hoard the few resources you do have?
Slippage in your spiritual practices. Have practices that are normally life-giving (solitude and silence, prayer, personal reflection on Scripture, journaling, self-examination, caring for the body) become burdensome? Do you believe you don't have the time or energy for them even though you know they're good for you?
Related Topics:
rest
Join the Kyria.com Community!
Become a member to have access to the following:
- Full access to hundreds of other articles for thoughtful, influential women
- The monthly Kyria digizine, each issue focusing on a spiritual discipline or theme
- 20 percent discount on all of the downloadable resources in the Kyria Store
downloadable guides
Prayer and Meditation
Cultivating a deeper relationship with God.
Ministering to Working Women
How your women's ministry can better meet the needs of women who work outside the home.Browse More Guides
back to top
Average User Rating:
Displaying 1–5 of 7 comments.
See all comments
Jade
That was the perfect article for me. thank you for sharing, am tired and my prayer is for God to give me rest.Barikiwa(kiswahili(Kenyan)for God bless you)
Sue
Wow is all I can say cuz this described me to a T! I will definately take the time to ask God about being tired all the time & how to stop it. Thank you for this article! God knows what when need & when we need it & I needed this now!
Tasha
Wow, this article is awesome! It was what I needed to hear. sometimes during life's trials, we loose are focase which should always be Christ first and He will help us with whatever we are facing. Again, thanks!
Julie
Thank you for asking me to linger in realizing my exhaustion and inviting God into it. Thank you for your support and encouragement. I'm well beyond the realm of over the edge.
berlie
Im a busy working mother of two. I know how to feel irritated and almost about to explode even on small things when im tired. this situation makes me think im still a human being and vulnerable to commit sin especially when im fed up with so many things. but thanks be to God for whenever im weak He is the source of my strength.!
Rate & Comment on this article *