After two days of salvaging 300’ of wood fence panels in near 100˚ weather, I’m weary. While hauling it 70 miles back home, I was praying and thinking about this week’s topic. The Lord reminded me the motto of Sustaining Word—a word that sustains the weary (Is 50:4). A word for me was simple; get a good night’s sleep. Physical weariness began because of Adam’s sin. Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. . . By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food (Gen 3: 17, 19). Even Jesus became physically weary. So Jesus, being wearied from His journey, was sitting thus by the well (Jn 4:6). Yet, every day all of us see and meet people who are not only physically weary, they are weary with life.
For physical weariness, God gave man the Sabbath and the night for rest and a time for refreshing. Jesus extended an invitation for those wearied by life. Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest (Mat 11:28). One cause of the Jew’s weariness came from the scribes and the Pharisees. They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger (Mat 23:4). The Pharisees had added thousands of laws and traditions claiming they were clarifying the Mosaic Law but it became a burden too great for the people believing they must keep these additional rules so they could please God. Jesus was teaching that He didn’t require all these man-made religious rituals and He would take their weariness and give them rest. That invitation still applies to all believers today.
Note several issues mentioned in Scripture that makes people weary: worry, sorrow, idols, sin, people, and hostility from sinners. Today, I see people weary in their marriage or over their children or weary from long-term disease and sickness. I can only imagine how weary those persecuted for their belief in Christ must feel. Ten of thousands are in prison especially in Iran and North Korea. Terrorist have forced multitudes of Christians to flee from their homes and countries. Living in refugee camps must be overwhelming. However, not only negative difficulties make us weary. Paul warns twice that we should not allow doing good works to wear us out. Let us not lose heart in, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary (Gal 6:9). But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good (2Th 3:13). One of the most vulnerable groups I discovered over the years is those with a servanthood nature. People with this gift enjoy and gain fulfillment if the people they serve are pleased. Their weakness—they over commit and never learn how to say “no”. Ministers, who accept the following philosophy, can exploit believers who are servants. “If you want something done, find a busy person.” I have observed too many Christians loose heart and quit after about a year.
Another area you must guard against is ministering outside of your spiritual gifting and abilities. Churches have put me in that position more than once. I not only grew weary, I burned out in one situation. A good rule of thumb is the 80/20 principle; we should minister in 80% of our gifted area and only 20% outside our strengths. The problem arises when we are laboring in 80% of the areas in which we have no abilities. We must learn that God designed us for a certain ministry. People tend to believe, “God will get me strength.” He does give us strength, but He expects us to use wisdom and know our weaknesses and strengths.
Weariness is never a sin. Scripture gives numerous promises of refreshing to the weary. Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will. Isaiah wrote that even youths grow weary and tired. He added this promise. Yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary (Isa 40:31). These verses provide lessons on how we regain strength. Rest from Jesus requires that you come to Him, Come to Me. The backdrop of Isaiah’s teaching is the eagle. As an eagle ages, its feathers become worn causing them to expend more energy for flying. At this point, they molt (lose their feathers) but it takes time requiring them to wait as new feathers grow. Through that process their strength is renewed and again they can soar to the heights. After the disciples returned from ministering in various towns and villages, Jesus said, Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while (Mar 6:31). They were weary and like the eagle needed to molt and renew their strength. Be assured the Church will not fall apart without you when His renewing takes time.
This applies to believers laboring in the Kingdom of God. It also applies to those struggling through life and troubling situations—marriage, children, health, persecution. I’ve even read testimonies from those in refugee camps or have been in prison for being Christians and how the Holy Spirit daily gave them strength and refreshing.
Sustaining Word for the Week: If you are weary with life, this same strength and renewal is available for you regardless of your situation. Come to Jesus.