“Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.” (Hebrews 12:12,13)
Beware of weariness. Weariness causes our hands to hang down and our knees to become feeble. It tempts us to throw in the towel on something or someone that God wants us to continue to invest in. Only if God Himself tells us to stop should we stop. When we feel ourselves getting “sick and tired,” it is time for us to wait on the Lord and let Him renew our strength. (Isa. 40:31) Weariness can prevent us from finishing the race God has set before us.
We can become weary for many reasons. The day’s labor is long and hard. We see little fruit for our labors. We face much struggle and opposition. The season we are in drags on and on. The danger of weariness is that it can cause us to abandon the race that God has called us to run with patience.
The danger of weariness is that it can cause us to abandon the race that God has called us to run with patience.
The Captain of our salvation courageously lived to do the will of the Father and finish the work He was given to do. For the joy set before Him Jesus endured every hard thing He was faced with. He is the Author and Finisher of our faith. We are told to look to Him lest we become weary and faint in our minds. (Heb.12:3) A reward is guaranteed to us only if we likewise keep our eyes on the prize, and don’t faint. “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” (Gal. 6:9)
If we faint in the day of adversity our strength is small. (Prov. 24:10) None of us though has what it takes to endure to the end. We are no better than Elijah who grew weary with the battle and wanted to get away from it all. But God “gives power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increases strength.” (Isa. 40:29) The exhortation of Hebrews is to come to the throne of grace to find help in our time of need. (Heb. 4:16)
Jesus was tempted in all points as we are. He knew what it was like to hunger and thirst. He fell asleep on the boat. He was often naturally depleted. But He also knew how to have His strength renewed. His food was to do the will of His Father and finish the work He was given to do. “Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.” (John 4:34) We must have this same food to strengthen us when we find ourselves becoming faint. We must live to do God’s will and finish the work He has given us to do.
We must live to do God’s will and finish the work He has given us to do.
Are you becoming spiritually weary? Are you being tempted to drop out of the race set before you? The Lord can refresh you if you will turn your eyes away from all that would wear you out and look to Jesus. He looked beyond the responses of men to His ministry, and lived for the day when He would stand before His Father, and receive the precious reward reserved for those who endure to the end. The light affliction He endured for a moment worked for Him a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. He has crossed His finish line and wears the victor’s crown. Through Him, we can do the same.