A Prayer of Weariness 
                 by Randy Alcorn

I AM WEARY, Lord… bone tired.

Weary to the point of tears, and past them.

Your Word says you never grow weary;

But I know you understand weariness

 Because once you drug a heavy cross

            up a long lonely hill.

Many times you had nowhere to lay your head—

And people who needed you pressed upon you

            by day and by night.

My reservoir is depleted, almost dry.

For longer than I can remember I’ve been

            Dredging from its sludgy underside

Giving myself and my loved ones the leftovers

            Of a life occupied with endless tasks.

The elastic of my life is so stretched out of shape

            that it doesn’t snap back anymore.

Just once I’d like to say “It is finished,” like you did.

But you said it just before you died.

I guess my job won’t be over till my life is

            and that’s OK Lord,

            if you’ll just give me strength to live it.

Deliver me from this limbo of half-life;

            Not just surviving, but thriving.

You who know all, You who know me

            Far better than I know myself—

Deposit to my account that as I spend myself

            There may be always more to draw from.

Give me strength

            To rest without guilt…

                        To run without frenzy…

                                    To soar like an eagle

Over the broad breathless canyons of the life

you still have for me both here and beyond.

This poem was originally published in 1986 in Women Under Stress by Randy and Nanci Alcorn. This book is currently out of print. However, new and/or used copies may be purchased through www.addall.com or www.amazon.com.

This article originally appeared in the Winter 2011 issue of EPM's quarterly newsletter Eternal Perspectives.