Joy: The Cure for Spiritual Fatigue- Ethan Hagan

One of the keys to overcoming spiritual fatigue is the joy of the Lord. Just as vitamins help supplement the nutrients our bodies need to stay healthy and fight off disease, we need the joy of the Lord that flows from the Holy Spirit. It strengthens us and helps us maintain a spiritually healthy life. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy. . .” (Galatians 5:22).

Have you ever found yourself worn out from a long day of work or school? We all have—unless we live off caffeine 24/7. Fatigue is an unfortunate part of the human experience. Even Jesus, in His humanity, grew weary (John 4:6). Isaiah observed that fatigue can affect all age groups (40:30). You may think there’s an exception for your child who runs around all day. You can only dream of having their energy.

But look into their bedroom in the wee hours, and more than likely they are asleep, exhausted and recharging. If exhaustion is a reality of life in the natural, so also is it in the spiritual.

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When we first experience salvation, we seemingly have the energy of a little child. It is the joy of salvation. We find new meaning in living for the Lord. But just because we have been born again into another world does not mean this present world has faded away. At least not yet. Sooner or later we come face to face with reality. We become weary, spiritually fatigued, and exhausted. We are not exempt even though we have been baptized in Jesus’ name and filled with the Spirit. But the good news is the Lord will empower us and renew our strength.

The prophet Isaiah wrote, “He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:29–31, NKJV).

We all have an adversary who will try to discourage, condemn, and sap us of our spiritual strength. (See Amos 3:11.) Daniel, by the Holy Spirit, caught a glimpse into the future and saw that the spirit of the adversary would seek to “wear out the saints” (7:25, ESV). If you are feeling spiritually fatigued, it could be because of the adversary. Yet you don’t have to remain weary because the Lord (who is our advocate) gives us power to overcome.

Yet you don’t have to remain weary because the Lord (who is our advocate) gives us power to overcome.

His Spirit comes alongside us to help us in our weakness. (See John 14:16.) The Bible says there is “righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost” (Romans 14:17). “The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10)!

Sometimes, however, we find ourselves worn out spiritually, and it is not the enemy’s doing. Neither is it just because life happens; it is because of our own doing. We find ourselves so busy that we forget to pray, read our Bible, and meditate on God’s Word. We rationalize and make excuses for doing so, when in reality we have become bored. But God is longsuffering, merciful, and kind. He stands ready to reenergize us spiritually if we will just ask Him. It is during times like these that we can pray as David prayed: “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation” (Psalm 51:12). And He will. Because our salvation comes from Him, He can restore our joy!

No matter what the reason is for your spiritual weariness, the Lord has promised to empower, strengthen, renew, and restore you. It is His will for you. And the way He will do that is “with might through His Spirit in [your] inner [being]” (Ephesians 3:16, NKJV). That is why the apostle Paul encouraged us that even when we are fatigued (whether physically or spiritually) “not [to] lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day” (II Corinthians 4:16, NKJV).

You can be renewed and your joy can be restored today by God’s Spirit in you. Stop what you are doing for a moment. Take some time and rediscover the joy of your salvation. Pray this verse of Scripture aloud and say to the Lord, “You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11, NKJV).

Ethan Hagan is an evangelist from Memphis, Tennessee, with the UPCI.