Monday, November 05, 2007

weary

I have found myself weary lately in spirit especially, but somewhat in body as well. What keeps me going is the faint echo I hear of hope, and then God's encouraging to my spirit and mind along the way.

Weariness can be symptomatic of sin, or maybe simply of physical fatigue. Sin can be as subtle as not drawing near to God, not seeking God wholeheartedly. Though I find God's forgiveness and sense of presence can come just as quickly. The problem comes when I encounter this weariness over a few days. One can get to the place where it seems like one is going to give up and quit.

What is difficult about being weary is that any better sense is honestly beyond one's self. But for us in Jesus, we know that we can't think that when we run out of vigor and life, then that's the end. If that's the end, then we're not getting what we need from God. And from God in Christ we get all that we need for a godly life (2 Peter 1).

Weariness can help us unlearn all of what in us is not pleasing to God. Weariness can be a pointer that in some way there is something displeasing to God about us. And as God's children we don't find it pleasing either, since God does not stop his good work in us, and works in us both to choose and to do his good will.

But weariness is a dangerous time. What if we give up, and in so doing give in to that which might be damaging to us, as well as to others (Psalm 73)? What if we begin to go a completely different way, the way of the world- as did Demas? Or at least commit a sin that wreaks havoc in our world? We best beware and not go there. Better to take Jesus' words seriously and radically deal with any such thoughts.

If weary, wait. Let's wait on God; let's seek God and renewing of communion with him- and from that with each other in Jesus. And let's keep doing it.

10 comments:

Mary said...

I think weariness is the body (be it physical, spiritual, or both) telling us the need for rest. In the Bible, we are commanded to rest...and yet how often do we do that? How often do we take a break from running ourselves ragged either from work, play, or "duty" (even duty to the church)? If God Himself took a break from creating the world, surely we as humans might need a break too. And being that we're commanded to rest, to not do so would be sinning.

Rest up that weary heart and body!

Dave J. said...

Thanks for sharing. Weariness means you haven't given up. You are right to look for shelter in God's peace. Kinda goes back to yesterday's sermon, don't it?

Shalom

Ted M. Gossard said...

Mary,
Thanks for your wise words. I do have some good intervals of rest.
But overall not enough. I'll try to put your good counsel to practice.

Ted M. Gossard said...

Dave,
Yeah, you're right. So true what Sharon was saying, and so needed by me- to find shelter in God's peace. I did experience some of that today. Need to keep going there.

Anonymous said...

good advice...
to wait on God.
patience is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit.
to encourage one another has got to be another way to battle weariness.

you are a very Loving person and a son of the Almighty God. God Loves you and will always be with you.

we have plane flights to indiana to leave on wednesday and return on sunday. it is a trip to visit with my husbands parents. and we should also see his only sister as well. his father is in his seventies and takes care of his mother who suffers with alzheimer's.

so if i do not get to a computer i will be pretty quiet on the blog!

praise God!

Philippians 4:4

nancy

Ted M. Gossard said...

Nancy,
Have a very blessed time in Indiana! My wife, Deb, is from Elkhart, Indianan.

Thanks for your kind and good words. Always appreciated. Enjoy your trip and time. Hope it's not too blustery cold.

Ted M. Gossard said...

and Nancy, blessings on your husband's father, mother and sister, and on your time with them there.

Ted M. Gossard said...

For whatever it's worth, I have to say, looking back on this week, that I ended the week feeling more rested than I have for some time. So thanks for the counsel and prayers.

John said...

It's kind of an oxymoron that when we are weary, we need to keep coming to God. Sometimes the last thing I want to do is draw near to Him. But it seems that we're called to it, eh?

I get weary when I forget that He is in control. I'm in a holding pattern in life right now, waiting to be shown my destination, departure, and time of landing. So I'm in a holding pattern in the planning stages. Not a fun place to be. But I worry myself to the point that I can't rest.

We (I) need to learn what it means to REST in Him. Glad you ended the week feeling rested, Ted. May we all find such grace.

Ted M. Gossard said...

John,
My prayers are with you, that the Lord will help you and give you more of this rest, overall, -in Jesus.

Thanks for sharing here.