And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9
Certainly we all have ‘those’ days. The days when it all seems so overwhelming and hard. When everywhere you look it seems that the righteous and those that love are losing. Those days where evil seems to always have the upper hand. It’s normal to feel weary. Many times the feeling and want to quit is so strong. One thing right after another seemingly destroying every forward step you are attempting. This is the human experience. So what does one do .. then?
This is the time to activate the thing God gave to us … our free will. Our chooser. That ‘gift’ God gave to us is probably the most powerful thing given to humankind… and to you. I think of David when he was REALLY feeling down…
And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God. 1 Samuel 30:6
The Hebrew word ‘strengthened’ here is chazaq: to be or grow firm or strong, strengthen. David CHOSE to go to God for instructions on what to do next when he was feeling at his lowest.
Despite our feelings we can still make choices. And those choices determine our path forward. David made a choice to submit himself to God when he was at one of the lowest points in his life. And God gave David instructions on what he should do next. (see verse 8)
Please read John 14:15-26 about the “Helper” God provides us with. When we are all in this ‘state’ of weariness the Helper is there to HELP us, IF we will just ask Him.
One of the ways I encourage myself when I’m barraged by so many hard feelings is to go to the Word, which actually for me feels like ‘home’. I also ask the Holy Spirit to help me and guide me to read what He wants me to remember. I also ask Him for instructions on what to do next. There have been several times the Holy Spirit had me get up and go purchase a gift for someone else and bring it to them. To encourage the person He pointed out to me. In doing what He instructed me to do it lifted me out of my current depression, and bad feelings.
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11
We have to CHOOSE which direction we want to go. Read James 1:2-8. The advice Jesus’ half-brother has is really good for us.
Learning this lesson is often not easy. And because it is more difficult we will have many chances throughout our lives to get it right. It’s okay to fail, we all do. Just don’t give up.
All the days of the afflicted are evil, but the cheerful of heart has a continual feast. Proverbs 15:15
This isn’t easy either .. to always have a ‘cheerful’ heart. But there is a process the Holy Spirit wants to teach us and provide for us to mature and get stronger .. in Him. It’s His implantation in us of His characteristics slowly and surely … if we let Him. (Galatians 5:22-23)
His Joy in us .. is so FAR beyond happiness. IYKYK.