Do you get Weary?

Isaiah 40:31 (New International Version)

31 but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

Since one of my friends told me my devotion the other day was outstanding, and my mom said, "Amen" in the comments, I figured I would try another one. 

Sometimes when I read a verse I get stuck on a word.  Today I am stuck on the word "weary".  I am often weary.  The word evokes not just a sense of physical exhaustion but almost more so for me of mental exhaustion as well.  When I am weary life just seems so overwhelming that I want to crawl in bed.  I don't know where to start a  to-do list so long it seems I will never finish.  I have to confront someone on a personal issue.  My family is needing me continually.  I have a problem I cannot solve.  I am weary.  I don't know what to do.  I don't know where to start.  I want to run away from it all.

I get weary.

This scripture tells me that if I "hope in the Lord" I can run and not grow weary.  Yes, that is what I want.  To keep going through the business of my life, running on and on without that weary feeling.  Without getting overwhelmed by the responsibilities of my life, the problems I encounter.  There is the answer, "hope in the Lord."

Oh Gee Thanks...For nothing.

As I have blogged about a couple times already this year I find the phrase "hope in the Lord." to be about as clear as mud.  What does that mean?

The Sunday School answer I have come to believe is that we need to be focused on our relationship with the Lord, spending time in prayer, reading the bible, general quiet time stuff and everything will come together.  And I suppose that is a good short answer but not always fully helpful.

Yes when I spend time with the Lord my burdon can be temporarily released.  But in the end I still have to figure out where Isabelle is going to school in the fall or how to talk with friends that are struggling.  Even if I "give it to God" it is still there.  I still have to deal with it.

I have come to understand that when I put my "hope" in the Lord or "trust" God, another common but useless phrase, it is about changing my perspective, my attitude.  We stop viewing life through the lens of what WE think and what WE need to do. Putting my hope in God means that I start wondering what GOD thinks and watching to see what GOD is going to do.  And that gets me excited.  My to-do list will be just as long and there are still things on the list I don't want to do but when I change my attitude from what I have to do to stepping forward excited to see what God will do I am no longer weary but am full of energy.