Remember This When You Get Tired

In the book of Galatians chapter 6 verses 1-10, there’s a simple but very profound principle that we would all do well to learn.  

We quote a lot of scriptures even as we encourage others in their situations. But when we can personalise a particular verse or passage based on what we are going through, it hits differently. Personal application.

So today, we want to continue to encourage ourselves in the Lord, as we journey through life, trying our very best to live the way Jesus wants us to live.

While life offers us many opportunities to thrive, very often, we come upon some challenges that cause us to pause and even want to give up.

But again, as we repeat here often, giving up is not an option.

We read from the New Living Translation version of The Bible - Galatians chapter 6 from verses 1-10. It speaks to persevering in well-doing.  

“Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important. Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. For we are each responsible for our own conduct. Those who are taught the word of God should provide for their teachers, sharing all good things with them. Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessings if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.”

This was a very timely reminder for me personally yesterday as I continued to juggle my responsibilities, including trying to get the software working on this new computer. I cannot begin to tell you the level of frustration that wanted to overtake me. But the Lord wouldn’t let it. Thanks be to God.

So, I’m here, we are here, at the dining table, another day. And the lessons of life continue. And one thing I know, God will continue to teach until we either get it or get it.

This, for me, is a journey of faith. While I have been dislocated from the main studio for only two weeks to the day, it seems so long. In fact, it is becoming a burden and it seems that I am not seeing the results of my efforts.

But that’s what the enemy wants me to believe right, and guess what, it’s not working.

It is in these times that the scripture I just read came back to me, as I took a break from trying to set back up the computer and the software, and turned my attention to what we could discuss today.

Again, everything that is happening to us in the natural, we must be able to draw a spiritual analogy from it and use it to draw us closer to God. Life lessons.

Galatians 6:9 in the Amplified version says “Let us not grow weary or become discouraged in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap if we do not give in.”

In The Message version it reads: “So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit. 

The Holy Spirit is speaking to our spirits, through the Apostle Paul, as he reminds us that as we trod this Christian journey, we will find ourselves doing a lot of good, but not getting a lot of good in return, at least not immediately. We will sow seeds, and we may not be able to realise a harvest as quickly as we would want.

So we are reminded here that we are to look futuristically at the promise. We are to put on our spiritual eyeglasses. We must not get discouraged if things don’t seem to be flourishing for us, at the moment. We must persevere and not get tired. We must continue to do good and never give up.

Why not? How do we do this?

Looking at circumstances in our lives, we may be praying for a financial breakthrough for years. We may be praying for a resolution to a family or other relationship conflict for years. It may be a health challenge that we are praying about, yet we are not getting better.

How do we keep going when weariness sets in? When the results of our efforts seem delayed or unnoticed? 

The answer, Family, lies in where we place our focus and trust. I have found personally that when I occupy my mind with the things of God and projects to enhance my knowledge, that I do not have time to think about being discouraged much less get emotionally weary. 

Of course, as God designed it, our bodies may get physically tired if we are not temperate or moderate in our activities, and it would do us well to obey the warning signs and take a break. 

But here are a few points that we can consider when we are feeling tired, weary, fatigued, tempted to throw in the towel.

1. Focus on God’s Strength, Not Your Own

This is so good. Many times we try to do things on our own and that’s when we fail, get frustrated, and want to give up. For we know that if we let go and let God, that He never fails, right?

Isaiah 40:29-31 “He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.”

In other words, when we keep trying to do it on our own, we run the risk of burnout. However, when we lean on the Lord, He infuses us with His strength. 

Remember this when you get tired: It’s not about the might of our hands, but the power of the Holy Spirit at work within us.

2. Remember That Your Labor Is Not in Vain

How many of us have been working for years and years and you cannot see the fruits of your labour in even something material of value that you own?

So we would hear people mumbling after a while about slaving for some boss or a company and they having nothing to show for it except their own wear and tear.

But see, once we are honest in our dealings, we can be reassured with the Word of God in 1 Corinthians 15:58. “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

3. Keep an Eternal Perspective

More encouragement in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18. “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

And #4: The overarching principle, when we are feeling tired, worn out, like we can’t go anymore:  Trust in God’s Perfect Timing.

Listen, God is taking me through the wringer on this one. I used to get so frustrated and even angry when I was working on a project or even trying to get through to someone and it wasn’t happening. What did that do for me? I just got more frustrated and angry.

After a series of experiences, you either learn or you learn. And I have learned that when I am working on a project or I am dealing with someone who is being difficult and more than that causing me to become a grumpy old lady, I step away.

Case in point, I am still at the dining table, waiting on the Holy Spirit to show me how to configure and reconnect our studio. 

And you know, through this process, God has been doing a mighty work. We can shout a high note of praise and give God thanks for how The Morning Joy Experience has metamorphosed from mainly music into an avenue for everyone to call in daily to share their studies of the Word of God. 

So the “mishap” of the storm and losing a computer, turned out to be such a blessing in disguise. Another lesson in life. 

Family, let’s not become impatient when things don’t seem to be going right or when we don't see immediate results. 

Ecclesiastes 3:11 reminds us that the harvest will come, but it will come in God's timing, which is always perfect. Our role is to sow faithfully and leave the results to Him.

Today, as I continue to juggle my workload, I can only leave everything to God, as I encourage you to do as well. Remember, He gives us the strength we need all the time, not only when we get weary. We can take comfort in His Word that assures us our labor is not in vain. 

So let’s focus on the eternal, and trust in God’s perfect timing, all the time, every time. In due season, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

I remain confident that God sees my efforts, as He does yours, and He is faithful. Let’s not get weary in well doing. Remember, the seeds we sow today in love, kindness, and service will yield a harvest in due season. 

Keep on keeping on ZJoyVI Family. Keep on going children of God. The best is yet to come.

aub - 3 September 2024

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