Soul Fatigue

Soul Fatigue

Galatians 6:7-10

A Fatigue to Avoid

From most forms of fatigue we cannot escape.

• Physical fatigue is a daily reality.

• Mental fatigue consistently visits those who know real life requires reflection.

• Emotional fatigue invades our inner world when life becomes too heavy.

But there is a weariness we must avoid! Soul fatigue is the most dangerous form of exhaustion. It tempts us to quit on who we need the most … God. It entices us to quit on what we need the most – God’s will, God’s plan, God’s best.

Listen to the Word of God again:

Let us not become weary in doing good for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Definition of Soul Fatigue

I have soul fatigue when I protest doing the good God requests!

• When I decide I am no longer obeying God.

• I am no longer serving in a ministry.

• I am done with my co-workers.

I have soul fatigue when I assume doing good doesn’t matter.

• It doesn’t give shape to a better me, a better we, a better world.

Soul Fatigue and the Future

Soul fatigue is dangerous! It’s dangerous because it has a way of tampering with your future.

ILLUS: Exxon Valdez Soul Fatigue and a Satisfying Future

The Exxon Valdez is an oil tanker that was on its way to Long Beach, California. Instead, it crashed into a reef in Prince William Sound, Alaska. The crash resulted in the second largest oil spill in US History. Between 25-32 million gallons of oil spilled into the Ocean. Over 250,000 members of God’s creation died as a result. Bird life and marine life died. The quality of human lives were compromised by the spill. The primary reason for the tragedy was the fatigue of the crew. In fact, the captain of the ship was asleep when the ship crashed. Because of crew fatigue, its cargo, meant to support life, ended up sabotaging life.

You and I are carrying precious cargo!

But to make our delivery we have to avoid soul fatigue.

We can support life, not sabotage life, if we don’t give way to moral exhaustion.

We will reap a harvest – as individuals and as a church – if we keep doing the good we started at the beginning of the journey!

Crosshairs of Soul Fatigue

Before I stroll to the text, let me give you a couple of things you that may put us in the crosshairs of soul fatigue. You are aware of those that are most obvious, like overextending ourselves physically and emotionally. But often soul fatigue is created by the longing for God and lesser pursuits, chasing the higher good and various lesser goods simultaneously. This makes for a conflicted soul. Let me give you a couple of things we don’t typically consider.

Some have soul fatigue because they are …

… Too Busy Trying to Look Good.

Some invest so much energy in how they look they don’t have much stamina left to develop who they are. Maintaining our brand requires a lot of overtime hours. I can’t maintain my image and reflect his image at the same time. It’s exhausting! I have to pick one!

… Too Busy Trying to Live Good.

I’m thinking of those who think one of the goals in life is to be entertained. They have to go to every play, every movie, every concert, watch every sporting event, play golf weekly, go out of town every month. It’s hard to be a full time consumer and a full time contributor at the same time. It’s exhausting. I have to pick one.

… Too Busy Trying to Receive Good.

Many wait to receive good before they do good! This is a recipe for less than good in life. Always trying to figure out if I should wait for good or initiate good is emotionally exhausting. I have to pick one! But before you choose remember the text does not say “Let us not grow weary in waiting for others to do good to us.” It says, “Let us not grow weary in doing good.”

TRANSITION TO TEXT

What does this text tell us about avoiding Soul Fatigue?

What do we need to stay energized? Here it is: We need God!

Energy comes from God. Who I am is shaped by my understanding of who God is and what God has done for me. A. W. Tozer says, “What comes to mind when we think about God is the most important thing about us! “

To avoid Soul Fatigue…

Be Energized by God’s Programming (v. 9).

Created to Redistribute

You were created to both receive and redistribute the goodness of God. Your soul was programmed for good.