“… Lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.” (Hebrews 12:3)
We are not so in charge of our lives that we can control every circumstance to our liking. The “race that is set before us” may not be the race we want to run. Especially, when the race is long and hard and unpleasant, we can become “wearied and faint” in our minds.
The battle so often is mental. We can become “sick and tired” of it all and feel like giving up. But what does “giving up” look like? Usually, it means acting out in our frustration and anger to change our situation in some way. We become hard and oppressive and impatient with others. We are simply angry that we are having to go through a difficult stretch. But our wrath never works positive change in anything or anyone.
What would God have us do when we’re getting “burnt out”? Firstly, we must give Him power. What does this mean? It means we acknowledge that He is in control of all things. He is in charge of our lives. He has wisdom and might and uses and changes the season as it suits His purposes. The race we don’t like is just the race He has ordained.
Are we willing for God to purify us through the fire? Are we willing for Him to work out of us what He doesn’t like, and work in us what He does like? Or do we just want Him to make us happy? We will never have the stomach for any hard thing until we embrace it, understanding that there is divine purpose underlying it. Our minds must be armed. Now, we are ready to run. Now, we are ready to let patience have her perfect work. Now, we are ready to look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. And as we wait on the Lord, He will renew our strength, so that we run without weariness.