Advent Week 2

Hope For Those Who Are Weary

Thursday, December 12

And let us not grow weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we do not lose heart.

Galatians 6:9 Oxford Annotated Bible

The Holiday season is upon us and we are BUSY readying for them.  We are Busy getting our homes ready for company and with decorating.  We are Busy singing in the church Christmas Cantata.  We our Busy collecting toys and food for the less fortunate.  We are simply Busy, going around “doing Good.” The verse cited here is not simply for the Holiday season, but we could do well to remember it during the Holidays.

We are admonished not to grow weary.  Weary is defined as “usingup all one's strength and energy and to be unable to continue”.  When we are admonished, it is usuallyregarding something over which we have control.  But, do we have control over when our energy and strength is gone and we cannot do one more thing?

. This verse implies that we do. But how is this?  

As it applies to doing Good in our walk with Christ, how can we prevent weariness?

1.

Weariness can come from doing every good thing you are asked to do whether or not it fits your talents or spiritual gifts.

2.

Weariness can come from accepting assignments just because you are afraid it won’t get done if you don’t do it.

3.

Weariness can come from taking on tasks that you resentbut are afraid to say “no” to.  You quickly “lose heart” for a job that you don’t want to do in the first place.

In order to not grow weary, don’t accept every task that drops in your lap or swirls around you.  Just because someone has asked you to do it, does not necessarily indicate that God is calling you to do it.  And if the task is one that God wants accomplished, he will see that it gets done. We are not indispensable to God’s work.

Be prayerful, be realistic in making your decision.  Once you have determined that the task fits your gifts, personality, and schedule, then accept it with great commitment.  

Don’t lose heart and you will reap whatever the Lord intends for you and others involved in the endeavor.  This is our hope for not growing weary.

Marolyn Dowdy