The Fatigue Dip – Refuse to Give Up

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

─ Isaiah 26:3 ESV

John Steven Aquari, a world class runner for most of the 1960s and 1970s, represented Tanzania in the marathon at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. He cramped up during the race due to the high altitude of the city, something he’d not experienced while training in his country. Not quite halfway through the 42 km race, he was hit while runners jockeyed for position. He fell, wounded his knee, dislocating it and hitting his shoulder hard against the pavement. He refused to quit, and finished last.

News reporters asked him why he didn’t just give up. Aquari said, “My country did not send me 5,000 miles to start the race. They sent me 5,000 miles to finish the race.”

When you’ve worked really hard, you’re exhausted and can become vulnerable to the desire to give up. Here are three things to do when you face dips in your life:

1. Refuse to quit. There will be times you’ll want to pull off the road and stop. Sometimes you need to do that to get some rest, but you cannot stop.
2. Recognize Satan is at work.
3. Don’t make important decisions when you are fatigued. In a time of fatigue, it leads to this question: Will I ever feel better than I do today?
4.  Keep your focus on God.

Our verse in Isaiah comes with the promise that if you keep your focus on God, trusting Him, He’ll keep you in peace – His peace.

Today’s One Thing

Pray this prayer today and expect to walk in peace that only comes from Your Father:

Lord, I don’t feel right today. It’s been a long week, and I need your help. I need an attitude adjustment from you. Help me to work through this. I trust you and lean into your grace to push through.

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