Tired ... So Tired

Tonight is the night of the 2016 presidential Iowa caucuses, and God knows there are a lot of tired politicians and political hacks out there.  Most of them are laboring, trying to deliver a victory for their candidate, because they believe he or she is the very best person for the job.  Tonight is when "the rubber" begins to meet "the road".  It is the first opportunity for a victory, in a long line of opportunities.

Today's passage, from Galatians 6:9-10, is about what to do when you are tired to very depths of your soul.  Check it!

9-10 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. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith.   

(The Message version)

In verse 9, a key point is getting tired from "doing good".  What does that mean?  If you are a Christian, you have a "calling" of some type, from your Savior, your God.  You may not believe this to be true, because Satan has duped believers into accepting that there is the clergy (the professional godly people - - whuuuuuh?) and  - - here's your $10,000 word-of-the-day - - the laity (the people in the pews).  But, bottom line, Jesus did not issue The Great Commission (Matt. 28:19-20) to only the clergy.  At the very least, we are ALL commanded to share the gospel, in some way or the other, as God gives us opportunities to do so.  And, He does.

So, Paul is assuming here, rightly so, that Christians will be carrying out the "callings" God has placed on their lives.  A parent's calling is obviously to raise her or his children "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord", for example (Eph. 6:4).  A fellow believer said recently that if a believer is not fulfilling his calling, he is walking in disobedience.

No matter what calling God has given to you, you WILL get tired, and discouraged, and disgusted, and scared.  You will get angry at God and want to absolutely GIVE.UP.
I'm sorry to tell you - - - this is to be expected.
Why?
Because you are in a spiritual war.  Anytime and every time you yield yourself to the Holy Spirit in order to fulfill your calling, you will be opposed by the enemy, the evil one who is literally "hell-bent" on your destruction.
Isn't that just all flowers and bells?

Fortunately (oh yes!), God gives us His promise at the end of verse 9.  Don't quit.  Don't give up.
If you persevere, you will reap a harvest, a "good crop".

Some of you aren't "seeing" that right now.  But, look.  You aren't promised to see it.  Sorry!

I think of Vincent Van Gogh, who sold exactly one of his paintings during his lifetime1.  Yet, if you are at all educated, you've heard of the art of Vincent Van Gogh!  In fact, go google "Van Gogh at the Museum" and watch that vid, to get a sense of what I'm talking about here.  And, Van Gogh was a pagan, if I remember correctly!  How much more will our God do with our willing, persevering hearts if we will only trust Him and believe?  How much more!

The Scriptures say, "at the right time".  That's not your time.  That's on God's timetable.  HE gets to decide when "the right time" is.  Unfortunately, some of us play right into Satan's hands over timing. We get so discouraged at a lack of results, we just "chuck it all".  We do not live in a patient society. We live in a world where everything is instant, instant, right NOW!  Therefore, we expect our ministries to be the same.

So, let's persevere, people of God.  Go to Jesus when you are weary, and He will give you rest (Matt. 11:29).  Then, after He has restored your soul, get back out there, as Galatians 6:10 says.  "The test of your character is what it takes to stop you.  Finish the job!"1 Every time you get the chance, bless the people of God as well as the unsaved around you.  Be open-handed!  Give of your heart.  Give of your time. Give of yourself to advance Christ's kingdom.  Nothing ever given to God was ever wasted, nor will it ever be!

Father, even You rested, on the seventh day.  It is normal for us to get tired, in this war in which your gospel of salvation is continually opposed.  Thank you for being our source of rejuvenation, comfort and rest!  Thank you for equipping us because, you don't call the equipped; you equip the called! Help us to remember that and, like Winston Churchill said, "Never, never, never give up." as we keep walking in faith, fulfilling the calling you have given each of us.  In Jesus' name, amen
.
Source:

1  http://painting.about.com/od/paintingtrivia/f/van-gogh-first-painting-sold.htm
2  http://strader.cehd.tamu.edu/BobJonesQuotes.php