Discouragement tires us. Your 10-yearold son wets himself at a sporting event. You have a very messy eater, and the other children scoot over and stare. Maybe your child refuses to speak because he knows he is not easily understood. Maybe your child is extremely anxious. Maybe her friends outgrow her. Maybe she is too outgoing, huggy, and touchy. Maybe your relatives think you don't try hard enough. Maybe other children giggle behind her back or tease him to his face. Maybe someone cruelly told you, "You didn't have to have him." Maybe your typical children feel forgotten at times because of the demands of your special needs child. Maybe your children are never invited anywhere like other children are. And worse, maybe they ask you why.

Maybe you've been approached about your child's behavioral problems and the need for "discipline." The easy "solution" is offered. You already know there are issues. You try. You dread another incident where you overhear whispers. Maybe your medical bills are so high that you are broke. Some parents have personalities that advocate well, maybe even push. Some tire of pushing and some say no, this is mine to deal with—alone.

Fatigue makes everything worse. Not all days are difficult, but when they come they are heavy. You hate feeling like the martyr, the victim, but some days you are not a cheerful person of faith. Your entire family suffers from your discouragement. There are many problems with your fatigue. Find solutions.

Find Rest in God

We must remember our children are equipped to do all God has called them to do. And so are we.

When we are weary like David, we remember his lament:

"I am weary with my groaning; all
the night make I my bed to swim;
I water my couch with my tears"
(Psalm 6:6).

God will give us rest as He promised:

"Come unto me, all ye that labour
and are heavy laden, and I will give
you rest"
(Matthew 11:28).

We are weary, but He is not:

"Hast thou not known? Hast thou not
heard, that the everlasting God, the
Lord, the Creator of the ends of the
earth, fainteth not, neither is weary?
There is no searching of his understanding"
(Isaiah 40:28).

He will enable us to be refreshed:

"But they that wait upon the Lord
shall renew their strength; they shall
mount up with wings as eagles; they
shall run, and not be weary; and they
shall walk, and not faint"
(Isaiah 40:31)

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace,
whose mind is stayed on thee: because
he trusteth in thee"
(Isaiah 26:3).

He will strengthen and keep us.

Jesus is truth, and the enemy is a liar. We must abide in God, because the enemy will come to us without invitation. He will come at the most opportune time as he did to a hungry, tired, weary Jesus. If we possessed the ability to always stay "up," Jesus would not tell us, "do not be weary." The implication is that we will be weary. We are going to be tired, or He wouldn't need to give us rest.