What to Do If You Are Battle Weary?

The term “battle weary” originated from soldiers who have been on the battlefield too long and are tired of being there. “Battle fatigue” or “combat fatigue” in a solider is characterized by depression, anxiety, and loss of motivation, caused by the stress of active warfare.

As Christians we too can experience being battle weary. We are soldiers in the army of Christ (Ephesians 6:10, 17) and many have been on the frontlines of battle for years contending for family, friends, or other issues in our lives.

Recently, a friend in a Bible study, looked at me with swollen, tired eyes, and said to me,” I am so battle weary.” She has been taking care of her son by herself who has been disabled since he was nine years old. How I could relate to being battle weary? Although, I do not have a disabled son, I have a prodigal son that I have been praying 12 years for his deliverance. Some of you have situations in your lives that you have been praying for a long time and you may have grown weary. Perhaps you have been interceding for a wayward child, a family member’s salvation, or someone you love to be free from the bondage of addiction.

Some days you may feel like giving up and may even feel like your prayers are a waste of time. It is important to recognize when you start to think this way. Some steps need to be taken to revive your weariness. Do not ignore when you fall into this pattern of thinking.

Being emotionally and spiritually exhausted can happen to anyone, but staying that way is unhealthy and can lead to depression.

What to do if you are battle weary:

1. Take a day or half a day to rest. Rest your mind, your body, and nourish your spirit by connecting with God. Being battle weary can deplete your energy and it can affect your faith. Taking time-outs to refresh and re-energize will help to recharge you to get back in the fight.
2. Exercise to help with stress and any depression that has come with being battle weary. Feel-good endorphins are released when we exercise.
3. Eat nutritious foods and take a good vitamin supplement to aid with any depleted nutrients that can happen with chronic stress.
4. Get alone with God. Perhaps make a “war room.” Only God can speak to our weary souls and lift us out of despair. Time with God can energize us and equip us for the battle.
5. Ask God for a rhema word (a word spoken to your spirit from God), or to give you a scripture that applies to your situation.
6. Lighten your load as much as possible. Say, “No” when you need to. Not everybody will understand, but you are not to please man.
7. Do something that you enjoy. Yes, it will be difficult if you are battle weary, but it is important to still enjoy the pleasures of life.
8. Focus on what is right in your life. Change your perspective and begin to count the numerous things that are a blessing in your life.
9. Share your weariness with a trusted friend or family member, and have them pray with you.

It can be easy to become battle weary when you have been fighting the same war for years. Take some time to get restored in your faith, in your mind and body. Trust God that He is working on your behalf, even if you don’t see with your physical eyes anything changing. Never give up hope!

Rest on these scriptures:

Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him.      Psalm 62:1

He gives strength to the weary, and increase the power of the weak. Isaiah 40:29

Let us not become weary in doing well, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9

Have you become battle weary? What can you do today to bring refreshment back into your life?