The Answer for Weariness

Daniel 7:25a (ASV)
²⁵ And he shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High; …

If believers were asked what one word would best describe how they feel today, it would not be surprising if they answered, “weary”. Weariness is only one step beyond tiredness, but it is a big step. Whereas tiredness tends to be experienced physically, weariness takes an emotional toll as well.  It opens the door for disappointment to come into our lives. Then, if not checked, disappointment can begin to eat away at our faith. When our faith begins to fade, our hope follows after it. Weariness leads to a downward spiral. Not surprisingly, it is the devil’s game plan according to Daniel 7:25a.

There are some very valid reasons for why we feel the way we do. We are living in the last of the last days (which the Bible warned us would be filled with peril). The advancements of technology have thrust us into experiencing tragic events around the world in live time. And, just when it seems like the morality of the world could not sink any lower, it has, by declaring the world is no longer made up of only two genders, males and females. Given these and other factors, the opportunity for weariness will no doubt be with us for the foreseeable future. The question is, what will our response be to it?

As always, the Bible provides the answer. Jesus Himself spoke directly to the issue of weariness in Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG):

^28-30 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take  a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn  the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

While this passage is referring to the weariness that comes from living a life of religious tradition as opposed to living in a relationship with the Lord, the answer is the same for dealing with weariness. Note the sequence:

• As always, it starts with Jesus (“Come to me, get away with me…”).
• Putting Jesus first in our lives by spending time with Him (“walking with Him and working with Him”) brings refreshment (“you’ll recover your life”).
• Keep focused on Him (“watch how I do it”).
• Intimacy with Jesus leads to “learning the unforced rhythms of grace.”

GRACE embodies all that the Lord is, all that He does, and all that He has. Notice that it is released through “unforced rhythms,” which means it is all about what He does for us and not about what we do for ourselves. Our only part is receiving all that GRACE has for us.

As we learn to yield to God’s GRACE, we will find the weariness weighing us down will begin to lift from our lives. The world around us will not have changed. But the working of GRACE in our lives will have changed us. Disappoint will lose its grip, faith will rise up, and hope within us will begin to see that the good plan of God for His children is soon to be realized. The weariness will give way to a new appreciation that we have been chosen to live in such a time as this!

8/21