There's the tired that a night's sleep fixes, and there's the deeper kind, from carrying a lot for a long time. Scripture has room for both. These verses are for reading slowly, one at a time. Stay with whichever one finds you today.
When you need rest
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28 (KJV)
Jesus doesn't ask the weary to tidy themselves up first. The invitation goes to people who are already worn out, as they are.
When you've run out of strength
“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
Isaiah 40:31 (KJV)
Notice the last line. Some days are for soaring. On others, walking without fainting is what faithfulness looks like.
When you feel weak
“My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.”
2 Corinthians 12:9 (KJV)
Paul heard these words in the middle of his own struggle, not after it was over. Weakness wasn't a failure to hide. It was the place where he met grace.
When you need to be still
“Be still, and know that I am God”
Psalm 46:10 (KJV)
Sometimes the most faithful thing you can do is stop for a minute. Sit down, breathe, and let this one line be your whole devotional.
When you need gentle care
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.”
Psalm 23:1-2 (KJV)
A shepherd knows when the flock needs to stop. If you've been pushing on and on, let this be permission to rest.
When you're tired of doing good
“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”
Galatians 6:9 (KJV)
This verse is for caregivers, parents, volunteers and anyone whose faithful work goes unseen. Weariness doesn't mean the work was wasted.
A short prayer for tired days
Lord, I'm tired. You know exactly how tired. I bring You this weariness because I don't know where else to put it. Give me rest where You can, strength for what I must do, and the grace to leave the rest with You. Amen.
If tiredness has been with you for a long time, or if it comes with a heaviness that won't lift, please talk with your doctor, a pastor or someone you trust. Asking for help is a good and faithful thing to do.
For more quiet words to begin the day, see these short morning prayers. And if a verse helped today, keep it somewhere you'll see it: on a card, in your purse, or in a message to a friend who's tired too.
Common questions
What does the Bible say about being tired?
The Bible speaks often about weariness and invites people to bring it to God. In Matthew 11:28, Jesus says, Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
What is a good verse for when you are weary?
Isaiah 40:31 is a favorite for weary days. It says that those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.
Is it wrong for a Christian to feel tired?
No. Being tired is part of being human. Scripture shows faithful people growing weary, and Jesus Himself rested and slept.