Encouragement for the Weary

This work we've been called to can be difficult. It can be exhausting. In any kind of ministry work there are always more hearts to tend to than there are hours in the day, and after a time it can begin to wear us down. But this is especially true when the hearts we're caring for are wounded so deeply by a past abortion or sexual sin.

Add to that the frequent and persistent attacks of the enemy on those of us who bear the name of Christ and seek to serve Him with our lives, and we become wearier still. Temptations, irritations, frustrations, roadblocks, illness, discouragement -- all tools the enemy uses to chip away at our resolve, beat us down, and crush us.

Sadly, his plans succeed all too often. Good pastors, teachers, and ministry leaders take early retirement, or worse, they fall into sin. Too weary to keep fighting the fight and running the race they throw in the towel or stumble and tumble off the road, wounded and defeated.

However, the Word tells us not to lose heart -- notice our hearts are important to Him as well -- that in "due" time -- His timing, not ours--we will reap what we've sown. What we have through the ministry God has called us to is an opportunity -- an opportunity to partner with Christ, to be used by Him as He fulfills His purposes in and through us for the Kingdom of God. What an awesome opportunity that is! How privileged we are to have been chosen for such a task.

The one thing this passage doesn't disclose is "how" we keep from losing heart -- the key to success in ministry. But we know what that key is, don't we.... Yet how easily we forget sometimes. We are merely the vessels, the clay pots, the conduits. The strength, the power, the ability -- all of it comes from Him. Our job is simply to show up every day prepared for service. He does the rest. If only we could remember that!

The last line of this passage refers to doing good "especially" to those of the household of the faith -- our brothers and sisters in Christ.... another reminder to us that we need to be locking arms, supporting, encouraging, and praying for one another. The burdens we've been called to bear aren't merely the burdens of those to whom we're ministering, but to our co-workers in Christ.

What's the saying? A burden carried alone is multiplied; but a burden shared is cut in half. Or perhaps what's even better is a reminder from the Word of God itself: