2161) There are times when life pulls the rug out from under you. It can knock you senseless and make you wonder if getting back up is worth it. This is when inertia can be a problem.  

Inertia kicks in when you’ve stopped (even for a moment or for the right reasons) doing things (work, or even general hygiene), causing you to remain in that “stopped” state.  

Proverbs 24:10 addresses inertia. It reads if you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.  

The Hebrew word for faint is raphah which can be translated idle, being still, and hanging limp. It seems to be a warning to watch for inertia because it can keep you from standing strong against adversity.  

Does this mean we don’t have any dependence in God and only depend on our own strength? I don’t think so.  

Philippians 4:13 tells us we can do all things through Christ who gives us the strength to do them.  

Ephesians 2:10 reveals we are to do good works for God.  

Colossians 3:33–whatever you do, work heartily.  

Genesis 2:15 has God instructing Adam to work in the garden of Eden.  

I think the writer of Proverbs knew of the dangers that arise from inertia and wants to encourage us to ask God to help us battle it because it can be a difficult problem to overcome.  

Knowing about and watching for something that can be a problem helps make it possible to avoid it. We cannot be passive observers.