“The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God. Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.” (Isaiah 35:1-3)
There are many kinds of weariness. Jesus was so exhausted He fell asleep in a boat and stayed asleep even in a storm. We can grow weary when a season lasts too long; when we want to move on, but can’t.
The worst kind of weariness is a spiritual weariness where we’re tired of God’s exhortations to us.
“My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.” (Proverbs 3:11,12)
We are in a dangerous place when we know what God’s Word has to say; but frankly, we don’t want to hear it anymore. Spiritual death is not far off for those who are no longer living by every word that comes from God’s mouth. “… The rebellous dwell in a dry land.” (Psalm 68:6) When we stop minding the things of the Spirit we no longer find life and peace. (Rom. 8:6)
The enemy of our soul would like us to believe that we can afford to harden our hearts toward God. He wants us to get fed up with God’s agenda for us. He would tell us that the way is too long and the benefits of walking with God are too meager. He certainly does not want us to run with patience the race set before us. He would have our hands hang down and our knees grow feeble.
Our God can keep us alive and thriving even in a dry and thirsty land. He creates highways of holiness in the most barren wilderness. It is His design to bring forth the sweetest fruit and most fragrant flowers in the desert places of our life. But yielding to weariness will derail His plans for our life.
Better to be in a “waste howling wilderness,” but blossoming within; than to be in a garden of earthly delight, but spiritually barren. If we would stay on track, we must let God’s Word remain precious to us at all times.