ARE YOU WEARY TODAY?

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for 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 40:28-31 ESV)

I heard a funny story today that I'm passing on to you - Susie called a friend and asked how she was feeling. “Terrible,” came the reply. “My head’s splitting and my back and legs are killing me. The house is a mess, and the kids are driving me crazy.” Susie, full of compassion, said, “Listen, go and lie down, I’ll come over right away and cook lunch for you, clean up the house, and take care of the children while you get some rest. By the way, how is Sam?” “Sam? I have no husband named Sam.” “My heavens,” Susie exclaimed, “I must have dialed the wrong number.” “Are you still coming over?”

All of us grow weary from time to time in our day to day living as parents, grand parents, husbands, wives, employees and employers. In the social work world it is known as “burnout.” It happens with a very dedicated, committed person suddenly wakes up and realizes he/ she is tired. Tired of giving, tired of doing, tired of serving. That person finds that the joy of service is gone. The writers of the New Testament all realized that from time to time, those faithful workers for the Lord become weary. 

2 Thess. 3:13, “Do not grow weary in doing good.”

It is said that in most churches - 90 percent of the work is done by 10 percent of the people. The other 10 percent of the work is done by the remaining 90 percent of the people. Is it any doubt that the 10 percent become discouraged and weary as they see the lethargy of the 90 percent? We must feel like this person who was talking to a co-worker. Here's something else to think about: The population of this country is 280 million; 124 million are over the age of 65, leaving 156 million to do the work. There are 104 million people under the age of 25, leaving 52 million to do the work. There are 30 million people who work for the federal government which leaves 22 million to do the work. Four million are in the armed forces which leaves 18 million to do the work. Deduct 17,800,000 who work in state, county and city offices, leaving 200,000 to do the work. There are 188,000 in hospitals and institutions of various kinds, leaving 12,000 to do the work. Now it may interest you to know that there are 11,998 people in jail, so that leaves just two people to carry the load and that’s you and me brother, and I’m getting tired of doing everything myself.

HOW CAN WE OVERCOME WEARINESS

A. We Must Focus On Our Eternal Reward  - That We Will Reap What We Sow

(Gal 6:9) And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

Paul preceded this verse by saying in vss. 7- 8, “ . . . whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”

This is a fundamental law of nature. What we sow is what we reap . . . beans, peas, corn, weeds, etc. Paul is saying here that if we do not grow weary but continue to sow good work, we will reap eternal life.

Paul is not saying that we earn our salvation by good works but rather is saying that where we spend eternity will be determined by what kind of “sowing” we do. 

B. We Must Focus On What God Has Called Us To Do And Don't Worry About The Naysayers.

Abraham Lincoln said, “I do the very best I can, I mean to keep going. If the end brings me out all right, then what is said against me won’t matter. If I’m wrong, ten angels swearing I was right won’t make a difference.”

Keep your eyes and heart on what God want you to do and just do it.  The critics will always be there to try and stop you from doing what God has called you to do.

In the Book of Mark - a woman came and anointed the feet of Jesus and many people tried to stop her for being so wasteful.  I love what Jesus says...

“Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. She has done what she could...(Mark 14:6, 8 ESV)

C. We Must Focus On The Example Of Jesus Who Endured In The Face Of Great Hardship "For The Joy That Was Set Before Him."

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. (Hebrews 12:1-4 ESV)

In our Christian walk, we will encounter hardship and hostility but we must remember that Jesus endured far more than we can ever imagine and we must use that realization to strengthen us as we run the race set before us, knowing that if we do not grow weary or fainthearted that we, like Jesus, will receive the joy that is set before us. 

Paul expressed this same idea in II Cor. 4:16-17, “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.” 

There are a lot of reasons why we get weary in life but remember that God is your strength today and He will give you the help that you need - whether it be physciall, spiritually or mentally.  I love what Nehemiah 8:10 says, "The JOY OF THE LORD is your strenth."  

"May God infuse you with His great joy right now that you may run the race set before you with great strength. Amen."