Christ Came For the Weary
Your Nightly Prayer
by Clarence Haynes Jr.
TONIGHT’S SCRIPTURE
“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” - Isaiah 40:29
SOMETHING TO PONDER
In my prior job before I left, I had an assignment that required me to work a unique schedule. I was doing presentations twice a day, which sounds simple enough except for one little caveat. One presentation was at 11:30 in the morning and the other was at 11:30 at night. This unusual schedule lasted four days, and I thought it would be simple. I did not account for how this schedule would interfere with my sleep schedule, and the last night was the worst. After completing my last presentation, which did not finish until 1:30 in the morning, I went back to my hotel room. By the time I lay in bed and fell asleep, it was after 2. To top it off, I had to catch a 7 am flight, so I literally got no sleep. I was exhausted, had a lingering headache, and had no energy to do anything.
There is an expression that is true in sports and in life. Fatigue makes cowards of us all. Everyone has a will to fight; however, it is amazing how that will diminish once you get tired. Instead of a willing champion, you become an unwilling combatant. You might still be in the game, but your will to win has disappeared. That is how I was feeling after that week. It took me a week to recover from that.
When I think about weariness, I wonder how you are feeling right now. How is life going for you? Maybe you have gotten laid off from work in this job market, and as time lingers and no job appears, fatigue and frustration set in. Perhaps you have been waiting for your ministry or business to take off, but your tireless efforts don’t seem to produce any results. Possibly, you have been praying and waiting for God to answer a prayer, and there is nothing happening. Regardless of how you got there, you are tired, exhausted, and fatigued.
Christ Came for the Weary
What does this have to do with Christmas? In this season, sometimes we forget Christ came for those who are weary. Initially, it was the weariness that comes from the effects of sin, but it also applies to the weariness of life. In your weary place, Jesus is waiting for you. Isaiah reminds us that Christ gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. When you are weak, Christ perfectly positions His help for you.
The Path to His Strength
The amazing thing about Christ’s strength is that it shows up best when you are at your lowest or weakest. However, it only shows up when you acknowledge your weakness. Christ comes to restore the weak, but only to restore those who recognize they are weak. The moment that happens, that is when you have access to all of Jesus’ power.
In this holiday season, when we sometimes feel we must have it all together, please remember that you don’t. You don’t need to rely on your own strength, wisdom, or effort. Instead, you can run to the one who longs to strengthen you in your weakness. When you do, you will find all the strength you need to stay in the fight another day.
YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER
Lord,
I’m tired. I’m tired of waiting. Tired of fighting, and if I am honest, sometimes I am tired of praying. I come to you tonight because I need your strength. I humbly acknowledge that I can’t do it anymore, and I seek your help. As I sit here in your presence, I ask that you lift me out of my weakness and give me the strength I need because I don’t have it in me. I thank you, I can be honest and transparent, and thankful to know that your strength is available whenever I call. I rest knowing you have heard my prayer.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON
1. Don’t apologize for your weakness because it positions you to receive God’s strength.
2. Christ's restorative power never runs out, so it’s okay to go back as often as you need to.
3. You never have to pretend to be strong, because Christ sees your true condition and is there to help you.
Reflect on tonight’s prayer and share how God met you there. Join the Your Nightly Prayer discussion on the Crosswalk Forum.
Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Alessandro Viaro
He is the author of The Pursuit of Purpose, which helps readers understand how God leads them into his will, and the author of The Pursuit of Victory: How To Conquer Your Greatest Challenges and Win In Your Christian Life. Clarence is also committed to helping 10,000 people learn how to study the Bible and has released his first course, Bible Study Basics, to achieve that goal. To learn more about his ministry and resources, please visit clarencehaynes.com.
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Originally published Sunday, 07 December 2025.
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