When the Apostle Paul wrote the letter to the Galatians he was not just writing a friendly letter- he was a warrior taking a moment to send a message to those coming behind him. The message involves a lot about the purpose of the call of Christ. All throughout the letter we find phrases like “I have been crucified with Christ; It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” and “Those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires”. Paul really wants all of those coming after him to focus on the cross first and foremost.
But then toward the end he throws in this exhortation, “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we will reap if we do not lose heart.” This message is for all of us. It is easy to grow weary while doing good.
Here are several reasons why we often grow weary while doing good:
- We forget why we started on the journey (why are we serving in the ministry we’re in, forgetting the calling of God on our lives).
- The journey is taking longer than we thought. We’re still doing the same things over and over that we were doing in the beginning.
- The work we’re doing doesn’t seem to be solving the problem. We cook meals but people still wake up hungry every day. We counsel someone but they continue in sin anyway.
- We forget that the work we’re doing is God’s work.
- We think that God has forgotten us. “I’m doing what God has told me to do but He has obviously abandoned me.”
- We are ensnared by a sin that is keeping us from wanting to spend time drawing near to Christ.
How do we make sure that weariness does not take us captive? We know that we can accomplish many things when we are full of energy and excitement, but what if we are weary? Is there anything we can do to fight back? How do we re-energize? Is it possible to heed the Apostle Paul’s exhortation to not be weary?
It can feel impossible to just ‘stop being weary’. And yet, that does seem to be what Paul is saying. We need to put strategies in place to help us weather and recover from the weariness that is bound to come as we seek to serve Christ. When the Lord instituted the Sabbath rest He was building something into the life of His people that He knew we all need- scheduled rest. We need to rest. We need to turn our hearts toward God times of rest away from the busyness of life are perfect places to turn to God. Don’t succumb to weariness. Build strategies into your life that allow you to access the rest Christ offers.
Strategic truths for overcoming weariness:
- Our life is not our own, it belongs to Christ. “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (Galatians 2:20 NKJV)
- God has not abandoned us or forgotten that us. Why do you say, O Jacob, And speak, O Israel: “My way is hidden from the LORD, And my just claim is passed over by my God”? Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. (Isaiah 40:27-29 NKJV)
- We can sit at Jesus’ feet with Mary at any time in our journey. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:30-31 NKJV)
- Minister to the Lord. Pray. Read the Word. Do this by yourself and with others. Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. (Acts 13:1-3 NKJV)
- Look to Jesus! Lay aside sin and responsibilities that don’s belong to you. Don’t try to be the Holy Spirit. Don’t try to fulfill someone else’s calling. Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. (Hebrews 12:1-3 NKJV)
- Christ does not intend you to walk this journey alone- He wants to walk with you. “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30 NKJV)
For additional encouragement, listen to the sermon “Do Not Grow Weary While Doing Good”.
Stay the Course! – Pastor Joseph