In August 2020, I found myself suffering from loneliness from lack of interaction with adults. The COVID19 Pandemic had shut the country down since March.
You see, I was also attempting to carry burdens alone and set my own life-course. I was in the throes of pain in my body from sciatica issues and weariness from emotions of my soul.
Wearing garments of grumbling and complaining instead of praise and worship became my everyday attire. I also started carrying burdens and heavy loads for so many difficulties in my family and friends’ lives, along with my own life. Handing life-trails seemed exasperating during these months.
My husband and I spend time together. Our family of twelve took our yearly beach vacation. Our grandchildren had started visiting us again during the Summer. And, we made some forever memories with our family, who are all Christians.
Yet, that doesn’t take the place of weekly fellowship around God’s Word with Believers. I
ran into a friend who had participated in our weekly women’s Bible Study Gathering at my house in the past. She asked me to head up a Zoom meeting online. So, I invited a few women to an online meeting. We are currently meeting on Thursday evenings to edify, inspire, and nurture one another in Christ.
Yet, during this time, I sensed anxieties settling in stemming from fear, depression, and
mulling over quitting the ministry. My thinking had taken over instead of renewing my mind in
God’s Word. I felt tired and disgusted with the political unrest, violence, and bickering in our
shut-down nation. I quit watching the news. I lost focus on my heavenly Father. With little desire to read God’s Word, I lost much of my spiritual desires.
Since I was having troubles with sciatica, a visit to my Chiropractic Doctor called for care,
adjustments, and taping to still and rest my sciatic muscles. While resting a few days, Doctor’s orders, I asked, “Lord, what is going on with me physically, and in life and ministry?”
When I was least expecting it, a statement welled up in my spirit, not thought of in months, possibly years, “Don’t grow weary in well-doing.”
I knew the Holy Spirit was speaking to me.
9 Bible Verses On Weariness
The next night when sciatic pain started escalating, reaching for my study Bibles, I looked up Bible verses on weariness.
I discovered the word wear sits in the middle of weariness and weary in the dictionary. I was weary with wearing weariness. While reading Galatians 6:1-10, I ran scripture references on the following verses leaping from the pages into my heart:
Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:2)
But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load. (Galatians 6:4-5)
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. (Galatians 6:9)
Burdens in verse two is defined as, heavy or oppressing problems (the same as setting bones, mending nets, or bringing factions together). We are mending our friends’ nets to keep their lives and livelihoods afloat when we help carry their burdens. Also, when we carry others burdens, we come alongside to help bring broken pieces together for others.
The load and burden in verses four and five refer to a light task or ministry. Do you see
where this is going?
I was wearing weariness in ministry because I felt alone and was seeing little results. Let us not grow weary of mending our friends’ nets, helping bring broken pieces together for others, and carrying the ministry the Lord has entrusted to each of us.
Excerpts from the origin of “weary”
Middle English wery; Old English wērig; cognate with Old Saxon wōrig;
Akin to Old English wōrian “to crumble, break down, totter”
I was crumbling and breaking down emotionally and physically. I was weary! Weary in body
and soul affected my spirit.
The following scripture passages encouraged and strengthened me. Concerning my weariness about ministry, the Lord spoke the following:
“Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that
in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:58)Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. (2
Corinthians 4:1)
Concerning my weariness because the Word seemed dry and dull, the Lord spoke the following:
Know the word that sustains the weary. (Isaiah 50:4 NIV)
Weary because I had lost sight of how my heavenly Father prepares for my life and future, provides for my every need, and protects me from evil and harm. The Lord spoke the following;
Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you
rest. (Matthew 11:28 ESV)You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not
grown weary. (Revelation 2:3 NIV)
By reading and pondering the scripture passages, I started praying and renewing my mind. When I read the following verse, I started casting my burdens on the Lord. I am not equipped to carry such loads of burdens.
Casting all your anxieties on him, because He cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7)
I found myself praying and repenting of wearing weariness, anxieties, and fear. I belted from my heart and lips to my heavenly Father, “I need You”. I asked the Lord for forgiveness and asked Jesus to help me turn my heart and focus back on Him and His Word. Retraining my focus would help me turn from the things burdening me. And, He did help and continues to help me. It only took an Ask.
Jesus had answered in a quiet, yet thunderous, redemptive, and healing way. Hearing Him speak the few words deep inside me, “Don’t grow weary in well-doing,” changed my thinking. And, thinking new changed my living.
I threw away garments of heaviness and weariness to put on garments of praise and worship. Jesus was encouraging me. He is a redemptive Father waiting with open arms. Often, I need to humble myself and recognize my need for Him. Praying helps me and praying glorifies my heavenly Father.
Do you ever spiral into a pit of anxiety, fear, or weariness?
The Lord will meet us with our exact needs. God is a Father who knows our every need in spirit, soul, and body. I praise the Lord for His grace and mercy. And, I praise Him for the privilege of hearing Jesus speak to me. He will give us rest!
He is speaking to you right now!
What are you sensing Jesus speak about your weariness?
