Articles
Wearied
We have all probably experienced weariness; maybe it was a long, hard day of physical labor; maybe it was after a strenuous workout at the gym; maybe it was after a 20-mile march through the hills and mountains of some far away land with your fellow soldiers; maybe it was at the end of the day when you had three grumpy, sick kids you had to tend to with no outside help. Weariness is a fact of life, and it is sometimes a source of discouragement — even for usually-strong disciples. The truth is, no one is exempt from weariness and its effects and, for that reason, we must be alert to its effects on our spiritual walk and in our spiritual battles.
Weariness is nothing to ignore, either. God knows us well enough that He would inspire Paul to write, “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart” (Gal. 6:9). Apparently, weariness is a subject important enough that God would exhort us to not let discouragement affect us! Discouragement, amongst God's people, is a dangerous thing because it will cause us to lose focus, be less attentive to the important things, and simply lose interest in putting forth much effort. Weariness gives our spiritual adversary an advantage that he will exploit.
Consider the temptation of Jesus: When was it the devil came to Him to tempt Him? It was after Jesus had fasted for forty days and nights, probably a little physically weak from lack of food (Matt. 4:1). Should we be surprised the devil first demanded He make food out of stones in an effort to tempt Him? It is said of our spiritual adversary that he “walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Pet. 5:8), and he knows the weak and weary are prime targets. Let us be self-aware so we are not too weak to resist the devil, and let us also be aware of others who are weak and weary that we might help them when they are in a vulnerable period.
Weariness may affect us in just about every aspect of our spiritual life, too; we cannot be alert to one or two aspects of our spiritual side and neglect the others. It is when we deceive ourselves by thinking we are "strong enough" that we set ourselves up for an attack in those unprotected and neglected areas. Let us think about a few aspects of our spiritual lives where weariness affects us, and how we might strengthen ourselves that we “do not lose heart.”
Temptations. It almost goes without saying that this is one area where even the strongest disciple can grow
weary and discouraged. Our adversary wants us discouraged and feeling defeated, because he knows it is then that we are not far from giving up and giving in to those temptations. He will keep pushing and pushing, hoping we will give up and given in and gain yet another soul to suffer with him in eternity.
When God spoke to Joshua as he was about to lead Israel into the Promised Land and fight numerous battles against the people then dwelling in the land, He told him, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Josh. 1:9). Those words should be a reminder to us today that we will not lose any [spiritual] battle as long as God is with us, and remember the promise of God, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Heb. 13:5). As long as we stand with God, our spiritual adversary doesn't stand a chance!
Since we speak of a spiritual battle, it would be wise to heed the admonition of the apostle Paul: “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” (Eph. 6:10-13). No soldier would go out into battle without his armor, or any one piece of it; we are no less foolish if we think we can win without it!
Let us not grow weary in the spiritual battle, lest our enemy take advantage and weaken us or outright defeat us. We must be diligent workers, using the word of God properly and applying it as we need (2 Tim. 2:15) that we do not become weary.
Doing Good. When Paul admonished the brethren of Galatia to “not grow weary while doing good,” he wasn't talking about helping little old ladies across the street or baking cookies for the local care center. The context of this passage is preceded by several admonitions to do good in spiritual matters. [Gal. 5:16 is an admonition to “walk in the Spirit” as opposed to following fleshly pursuits; 5:17 speaks about us being led by the Spirit; Paul condemns the fleshly works (vv. 19-21) and exhorts us to have the fruit of the Spirit (vv. 22, 23); he then speaks of how we have put to death the fleshly passions (v. 24) that we may walk in the Spirit (v. 25); he then urges those “who are spiritual” to restore an erring brother (6:1); he then speaks of ones who have been taught the word to “share in all good things” with the one who taught them (6:6), and the reality that those who sow to the flesh will reap corruption, while those who sow to the Spirit will reap everlasting life (6:7, 8). It would seem very strange that Paul would suddenly change the focus to fleshly, material things when he wrote of the need to not grow weary while “doing good.”]
The fact is, there is much spiritual good we may be doing because there will almost always be a need. Brethren need to be admonished when they sin (2 Thess. 3:13-15), and restored (Gal. 6:1; Jas. 5:19, 20); brethren need to be strengthened (Heb. 12:12); lost souls need to hear the good news of salvation, and there are few laborers in that field (Matt. 9:37, 38); our children and new disciples must be encouraged and strengthened in the word of God that they, too, might come to know and obey Christ, and be able to fight their spiritual battles, too; and all disciples must be equipped for the work (Eph. 4:11, 12). Does it get tiring to do this day in and day out? Does it feel like your efforts are all for naught? Sometimes; but it is always worth the extra effort, and it will often have far-reaching benefits — even beyond our lifetime. Weariness must not affect our efforts in these things.
A Good Example. Every faithful disciple should know that he or she is going to be under the proverbial microscope when they are out in the world. Unbelievers and skeptics will be looking for any and every little fault and jump at the chance to hold you up as yet another example of Christians being no better than anyone else, or a bunch of hypocrites. Whether we realize it or not, someone is always watching, and they are looking to see if we actually live out the words we say we believe. There is no part of your life they will not investigate, either.
Is it wearisome to always be living under the spotlight of the world's critical eye? Do we sometimes just want to "be ourselves" and not worry about what anybody else thinks? Sure! No one revels in such critical attention, but it is what comes with being a Christian.
It is here we must not grow weary, too. We must be the example that will cause others to glorify God (1 Pet. 2:11, 12), rather than reject Him. Be strong! —— Steven Harper
