When You Are Weary

II Thessalonians 3:13

But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.

In our verse today and in Galatians 6:9, Paul tells us not to be weary in well doing.  We must understand that the tendency and potential for becoming weary is in us.  In fact, if we are honest with ourselves, most of us have experienced weariness in our Christian life.  With everything going on in the world today, it is very easy to become weary.  Here are three things to do when you are weary.

1. Watch
   I am going to give you five partial verses from the New Testament concerning the word watch.  It means to keep guard and to stay vigilant.  Three of these verses connect watching with praying.  When I am weary, the first thing I need to do is pray and search my heart and ask God to show me why I am weary.  I must guard my heart.  I also have a responsibility to stay vigilant personally, for my family, and for the family of God.  We are in this together.  Here are the verses.  I hope you look them up and read them in their context.
   I Corinthians 16:13 – Watch ye, stand  fast in the faith…
   Ephesians 6:18 – Praying always… in the Spirit, and watching… for all saints
   Colossians 4:2 – Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving
   I Thessalonians 5:6 – … let us watch and be sober
   I Peter 4:7 – … watch unto prayer
2. Wait
   This has been my experience.  When I try to be in control, impatience, frustration with others, and overall anxiety overwhelm me and drain my strength.  It is the perfect recipe for becoming weary.  David says this in Psalm 62:5, “My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.”  Did you notice those two words, ONLY and EXPECTATION?  Everyone but God will let you down.  He is the only One we should look to for what we need, desire, and dream of. 
   Isaiah 40:31 – But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
3. Worship
   Waiting focuses our hearts and minds on the Lord and takes our attention off of what we cannot control in the world around us.  When we focus on Jesus, we cannot help but worship Him.  Worshipping our Savior refreshes our spirit and renews our strength.  When weary Christians worship, they are weary no more.
   Hebrews 12:3 – For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

When I was a young preacher just beginning to learn about the ministry, I heard a preacher make this statement.  “It is not a sin to get discouraged, but it is a sin to stay discouraged.”  That statement has always stuck with me.  I believe it applies to weariness as well.  We are going to become weary but we do not have to stay weary.  God has given us all we need to be refreshed and renewed.  When you get weary, watch, wait, and worship.  And together, let’s keep on living for Jesus.

photo credit: Pastor Shane Wynn
photo location: Mill Creek, Ansted, WV