THE PSYCHOLOGICAL WARFARE OF WEARINESS

“I will catch up with him while he is weary and discouraged. He and his troops will panic, and everyone will run away.” 2 Samuel 17:2 (NLT)

Weariness can cause us to run away when we should stand firm. Today’s verse shows us some fascinating insight into the psychology around this.

In 2 Samuel 17, Absalom led a rebellious uprising against his father, King David. As David and his people fled Jerusalem, Absalom sought advice for his next military move from David’s disloyal advisor, Ahithophel. Even at this time in history, people understood psychological warfare. That’s why Ahithophel advised Absalom to attack David’s entourage while they were still physically tired from their escape discouraged.

Ahithophel understood that people make the worst decisions and are the easiest to defeat when they’re emotionally exhausted. Those are the moments we’re most vulnerable to run from our places of strength or victory, such as our homes, jobs and even countries.

Sometimes, the problem is that we think what we’re going through will never end or that we’re facing impossible circumstances. But take one look at world history—countless others have endured through years of social upheaval, wars and persecution and lived to thrive afterwards.

Don’t let weariness trick you into believing your circumstances won’t change or that you can’t continue onward. Whatever you’re going through, God’s presence can touch and restore you.

You will go further and achieve more than you can possibly imagine when you stand firm and refuse to give in to the enemy’s lies.