Don’t fret when words fail you for the exhaustion you feel

There are moments in all our lives when we’re pushed beyond healthy coping.  Yes, it’s a thing.  There is no such thing as, “God won’t give you more than you can handle.”  The key truth of life is that life circumstances will overwhelm us.

When I’m exhausted — usually when I’ve been in exhaustion for some time — I reach my limit quickly.  I should have picked up the warning signs earlier.

But like most of us if we’ve got many and varied responsibilities and people relying on us, I’m reticent to give up and let people down.  It’s too much of a cop-out to call us people-pleasers.

How can people be criticised for loving those in their care to the point of exhaustion?  It’s the call of the role!

I particularly appreciate parents and caregivers of those who have children with special needs.  Being close to those who have Pallister-Killian Syndrome, I have some idea of just how tough every single day is for the parents.  I’ve raised a child with special needs.  And so many parents I know are in the same position.  And it’s not just tough.  It’s tougher than that!

Yet, there are others who have horrendously exhausting lives through no fault of their own, many who are juggling the frailties of their own bodies and minds.

Then there’s the moment we come to consider.  When exhaustion speaks in groans, writhing and tears.  When perhaps there is a person who needs to be convinced that we really are feeling overwhelmed by it all.

Why is it that we’re not believed when we’re really feeling like we’ve given our all, and for the time being have nothing further to give?

Why is it that we’re the ones who are forced to consider whether it’s right or wrong to be burning out?  Skirting with guilt and feeling like we should have more in the tank, we suddenly recognise that, no, we’re really at our limit here.

When words fail us for the exhaustion we feel, perhaps it’s God taking our words away, even helping us feel so jaded and overwhelmed that we’re forced to stop, take stock, recollect, and design and set new plans, goals and boundaries.