Psalm 119:28 says, “My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.” Have you ever walked through a time that your soul was literally weary and God showed you a promise from His Word that saw you through the tears?
When I read this verse in Psalm 119, I could immediately relate to it. God’s Word is that powerful.
Souls get weary. That is a common reality in the spiritual life. We were not created to carry the burdens of a sinful world. The sorrow from loss, hardship and disappointment drains a soul.
When your soul is weary, it has run out of strength. There is no better place to receive strength for a weary soul than a promise from God. His Word is a promise. His Word is His character. His Word is medicine for a weary soul.
If you have never experienced God’s Word like this, I hope you will soon.
Weary souls seek relief from the constant pain. Many are drawn to pleasure as an anesthesia. Shopping, alcohol, relationship, are remedies that bring relief from weariness but do not strengthen the soul. It’s like eating a dessert buffet and trying to satisfy your body’s hunger. It will bring relief from the hunger pain, but it doesn't give strength.
Weary souls need strength, not anesthesia.
Though I have experienced the reality of God’s Word strengthening my soul numerous times in my life, I'm always surprised when it happens and don't fully appreciate the power of that Word at the exact moment. It is only after times of turning back to that Word over and over that the strength to my soul becomes established. His Word becomes my source of hope when the circumstances that wearied me in the first place don't seem to let up.
I receive the Word that strengthens me in one of my daily doses of Bible reading. Every day I read the Bible for a word or phrase that speaks to me. Most days those words do not become that important to me. But there have been several Scripture passages that have become a part of my soul. They are the Words that are understood by my soul to be the remedy to the problems that would otherwise wear me out.
Here’s a modern Celtic Prayer written by David Adam that drives these truths home
O Lord,
Reveal, to my eyes your glory.
Expose, to my heart your love.
Disperse, my mind the darkness
Still, my life with your light.
Protect, from thoughts without action.
Guard, from words without feelings.
Defend, from ideas without results,
And surround me with your presence.
Open my eyes, my heart, my mind, my will, my soul to the blowing of your Spirit.