CHRISTIAN LIFE: Overcoming Weariness

Help when life is Difficult…..

Weariness is something that we can all experience in our service for the Lord. There are times when we may feel like giving up and may wonder how we can possibly go on. The Lord Himself understands how we feel, of course. There was an occasion when Jesus was physically weary from His journey (see Jn.4:6), and as our great High Priest He can sympathize with our weaknesses, (Heb.4:15).

 

A number of times in the Greek New Testament the word enkakeo is used.  It means to lose heart or to be fainthearted and can describe the experience of lacking the courage to do something. Studying the verses where the word occurs can help us understand the spiritual equivalent of physical weariness.

 

 

FOUR SITUATIONS

There are four different situations where it is possible to experience weariness, and the first is in prayer. The Lord Jesus told a parable to emphasize the fact that “men ought always to pray, and not to faint,” (Lk.18:1). A careful reading of the parable recorded in Luke 18:2-7 reveals that it is indeed possible to “faint” in prayer. However, the widow in the story is an example of one who did not faint because she continued appealing to the unjust judge. She could easily have become discouraged when after a few appeals the judge did not grant her request, but she persisted in bringing her case to him.

 

We may begin to feel discouraged when a prayer request of ours does not appear to be answered. Of course, we must not make selfish requests (Jas.4:3) or ask for things that are not according to the will of God, (1 Jn.5:14). We cannot expect requests of this kind to be granted. The widow in the parable did have a legitimate need. Initially she seemed to be unsuccessful, and we can become disheartened when it appears that our prayers are not being answered.

 

In his second epistle to the Corinthians Paul brings to our attention another situation. It is possible to lose heart in the work of the gospel. Twice Paul declares, “We faint not,” (2 Cor.4:1,16). We are amazed that he did not faint when we read of his experiences! Being “troubled on every side, …perplexed,…persecuted,…cast down,…bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, …delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake,” (2 Cor.4:8-11) would surely be enough to dampen the spirits of all but the most intrepid of missionaries.

 

It is certainly possible to become discouraged in the Lord’s service when a very busy programme is being undertaken, physical exhaustion sets in, and there are no apparent results. A teacher may spend many hours preparing for her Bible class and may come home afterwards wondering if it was worth it because the children were noisy, badly behaved and seemed more interested in things that were going on outside the room. She may wonder if it is worth continuing to bring the gospel message to them week after week.

 

 

“MY TRIBULATIONS”

A third situation is perhaps related to this. In Ephesians 3:13 Paul writes of his “tribulations” and expresses his desire that the Ephesian believers “faint not” at this. Service for the Lord can result in tribulation for the servant of God. Paul experienced opposition of all kinds and knew what it was to be imprisoned, shipwrecked and stoned. These experiences themselves could have made Paul discouraged, and he seems aware that others might be disheartened too when they heard about it.Reading of the sufferings of others can make us apprehensive. We wonder how we would cope under such conditions, and so a kind of spiritual weariness sets in.

 

A fourth situation is revealed in 2 Thessalonians 3:13 where we find the words, “Be not weary in well doing.” For Paul to make such a statement shows that it is possible to become weary in doing good. Acts of kindness to those who are hostile to the gospel seem to have no effect. Disadvantaged people attend an outreach meeting and receive help of one kind or another from the people of God week after week and yet seem to make no response. Even Christians can be shown love and can receive help from other believers, and yet they appear ungrateful and unmindful of what it has cost the giver. Such experiences can make us wonder if it is worth persisting in the good that we have been doing.

 

 

HOW TO OVERCOME

The Bible is a wonderful book. Not only does it identify the situations in which we can become weary and fainthearted, but it also provides the appropriate remedies. Let us consider these four areas again. Our Lord’s parable was told specifically to impress upon the listeners the need “always to pray, and not to faint,” (Lk.18:1). If we do not pray we will faint! But we must keep on praying and not faint! The widow who persisted eventually achieved her desired object. The unjust judge feared that he would be wearied “by her continual coming,” (Lk.18:5). If an unjust judge will respond to much pleading, will not our God? Shall He not “avenge His own elect, which cry day and night unto Him,” (Lk.18:7)? The time may seem long. Great perseverance in prayer will be needed, but God often tests us in this way to see how concerned we really are. Rest assured, God will hear and answer our prayers. Is there some matter about which you have been praying for a long time with no apparent success? Do not give up – keep on praying!

 

In the area of service Paul explained to the Corinthians how he did not lose heart, or faint. Very simply, he “received mercy,” (2 Cor.4:1) for his service. The power of the risen Christ sustained him, and his “inward man” was “renewed day by day,” (2 Cor.4:14,16). In his work for the Lord, Paul viewed things from an “eternal” perspective and recognized that any difficulties encountered were “but for a moment,” (2 Cor.4:18,17). To avoid being fainthearted in our service we must have a right understanding of God’s power and must receive fresh supplies of mercy and grace from above, (Heb.4:16).

 

Sufferings can be overwhelming, and Paul knew what it was to be “pressed out of measure,” on occasions, (2 Cor.1:8). What advice did he give to those who were likely to “faint” at hearing of his tribulations? One little phrase supplies the answer: “which is your glory,” (Eph.3:13). Paul’s tribulations were for them, and he tells them that they are to be regarded as “glory”. The afflictions are only “light” when compared with “a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,” (2 Cor.4:17)! Rather than becoming discouraged when things are against us, we need to look beyond the present and view our situation in the light of eternity. There is glory ahead!

 

 

CERTAIN PROMISES

Finally, we have seen how it is possible to be “weary in well doing,” (2 Th.3:13), when we try to help other people in practical ways for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake. How can we prevent such weariness setting in when the good that we are doing does not seem to achieve anything?

Two verses give us great encouragement at this point. Consider them both:-

 

Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. (Galatians 6:9)

 

The “well doing” is like sowing the seed; harvest will follow – but if we become weary and give up doing good we may miss the harvest!

 

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 15:58).

 

What an encouragement this is! Our labour is not in vain if it is “in the Lord”! With this in mind, let us keep on doing good and not be unfruitful in this area, (Ti.3:14).

 

 

OVERCOMING WEARINESS

Are you becoming fainthearted? Pray! Pray again – and continue in your service for the Master in the strength that He supplies for His servants. Remember the promise: “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,” (Isa.40:31).