Who can relate? We’re tired. I don’t know of any parent who isn’t suffering from this. Tired of work, tired of cleaning, tired of laundry, tired of kids arguing, tired of traffic, tired of being sick, tired of school rules, … tired, tired, tired. As a society, we are becoming tired; physically and emotionally.
And yet, as tired as we are, we are busy, busy, busy. Who doesn’t also fit the second meme? I laugh at this one because it is so me. My husband laughed too! Although I work at being better about this, it’s an up and down process. In our society we are pushed and instructed to do more and more. Society and politics aren’t helping as we face a mountain of issues everyday that seem to take over the news waves.
It is so hard in today’s society to not grow weary. Between work, school, activities, and church, adding in stresses like finance, culture, politics, and marriage, it is a miracle that we have time to sleep. These things make it very easy to grow weary.
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
But the Bible tells us that we should never grow weary of doing good. What does this mean exactly? Seriously, even Jesus took time to rest right?
Yes, Jesus did rest, but this is not what the verse is referring to. There is a difference between being physically worn out and being spiritually weary. Miriam Webster defines weary as “exhausted in strength, endurance, vigor, or freshness.” When our spirit is so exhausted that it doesn’t want to endure, it can barely function, and is completely zapped of strength, we have a problem. And this is what the verse in Galatians is referring to.
We are so tired that we are unwilling to actually pray for that person in our small group, or watch someone’s child while they tend to their hospitalized spouse, or make a meal for the chronically sick individual. It’s not that we don’t care, or even that we don’t want to help. We just feel as though we can’t. We are too busy, too tired, too _________.
Or maybe we are in a situation with an addict. We’ve been working with them over and over and over. Let’s face it, they’re struggling to stay sober and you aren’t even sure if you are helping. You feel like all your effort is for nothing.
What about your marriage? It’s just been flat for too long. Or maybe it has become hostile. Apathy or anger prevents you from trying anymore. You’ve been trying for so long that it just seems futile. Why bother?
Paul, in Galatians, is telling us that our efforts matter. Don’t grow weary. Continue to do good to others. Even if it isn’t deserved, seems to be going nowhere, or takes up too much time. One day, you will reap rewards from your efforts.
As for you brothers, do not grow weary in doing good.
It wasn’t enough to just say it in Galatians, Paul tells us again in Thessalonians. Do NOT grow weary in doing good. There are verses upon verses instructing us on what “doing good” is and how we are to do it. But exactly how do we keep ourselves from getting weary?
We read our Bible and pray. God will give us “wings to soar on” as Isaiah tells us. Over and over the Bible tells us how God will sustain us and give us what we need. We just need to remember that. Reading our Bible and praying, consistently, will help us remember His promise to us.
But there is more we can do. We need to keep ourselves from becoming too busy. When we are too busy, we do not notice opportunities to do good. Or maybe we notice them, but have no time to deviate from our plan.
We also need to keep our mind fresh with the Word. When our head fills up with the negative, we are less likely to respond by doing good. When we are focused on all the progress NOT happening, we give up. When we focus on all the bad things our spouse has done, we decide to quit loving. Keeping our mind in a Godly place will consistently restore our mind, to focus on doing good.
It is not easy to keep from getting weary. The more proactive you are in not getting weary, the less you will have to pull yourself out of that tiring place.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to bring to mind areas in your life where you are growing weary of doing good.
1) What areas did the Holy Spirit reveal to you?
2) Why are you growing weary in these areas?
3) How can you adjust things to set yourself up for success in not growing weary?
4) If you are physically tired, what things can you change or cut out in order to give yourself physical rest?
