Finding Joy in the Midst of Weariness
Serving God is meant to be a joy, a source of fulfillment and purpose. But let's be real—sometimes it feels about as joyful as a root canal without anesthesia. We give and give, pouring ourselves out for others until we're as empty as a chocolate box after Valentine's Day. There comes a point when we can't give anymore. We're tired, weary, and worn out, and it's all we can do to keep putting one foot in front of the other without tripping over our own exhaustion.
I've been there myself more times than I care to admit. As a missionary and an author, I'm constantly juggling the demands of ministry, family, and my own physical limitations. There are days when I feel like I'm barely keeping my head above water, and the thought of giving any more of myself seems as impossible as teaching my dog to do my taxes.
It's like trying to squeeze water from a stone—no matter how hard I try, there's nothing left to give. The weight of responsibility presses down on my shoulders, and I wonder how I'll ever muster the strength to face another day of serving others when I can barely serve myself a bowl of cereal without spilling it. In those moments, the joy of ministry feels like a distant memory, replaced by an overwhelming sense of exhaustion and inadequacy.
But here's the thing, folks: God doesn't call us to serve Him out of our own strength. He calls us to rely on Him and trust in His grace and power. As the Apostle Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 12:9, "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness." I don't know about you, but I've got weakness in spades. It's comforting to know that God's not looking for Superman. He's looking for those who will lean on His strength.
So, if you're feeling about as strong as a wet noodle today, take heart. You're not alone, and you're not expected to do it all on your own. In fact, your weakness is the perfect canvas for God to display His strength. Lean on the Lord, trust in His grace, and remember that serving Him is a privilege, not a burden.
It's time to corral our thoughts and focus on what really matters. We can't let weariness and exhaustion rob us of the joy of serving the Lord. We mustn't fall into the Martha trap! After all, Jesus didn't say, "Come unto me, all ye who have color-coded planners and Pinterest-worthy to-do lists." He called out to the weary and heavy laden. He called out to us.