“So we must not get tired of doing good,
for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up.”
Seasons . . .
I don’t want to admit it. But sometimes I just get tired.
Tired of washing the dishes. Tired of being a chauffeur. Tired of helping with homework.
And when that clipboard is being passed around at Bible study, asking for people to sign up to make a meal or to serve in some other way, sometimes I don’t want to write my name down. Sometimes I want to take a pass, if even for a little while.
Yet, Paul says “we must not get tired of doing good.” So then I feel guilty for feeling tired and less-than motivated.
But there’s good news . . .
Paul’s words are true, for we don’t want to give up on doing good. But Paul also says that “we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up.” That word reap indicates a harvest. And harvests come in seasons.
God created the universe to operate in seasons. There’s a time for planting and a time for gathering — a time for sowing and a time for reaping. In the same way, there will be seasons in our lives when we’re able to do more, just as there will be seasons in our lives when we’ll need to do less. And it’s okay to embrace whatever season we find ourselves in.
Let’s not grow weary in doing good, but let’s also be wise in choosing which good things we’ll do.
Living in seasons was God’s idea all along. Some seasons require a slower pace, while other seasons give way to wild abandon.
Both are good and true.
Denise,
I just remarked to my husband yesterday (we’ve been snowed in) how I remember the times when “snow day” meant the dryer would run tirelessly to dry out and warm up snow clothes so that all the neighborhood kids who’d gathered at our house could go back out for another round of fun. The pantry would be ransacked and the fridge door would hang open and I’d go though a whole box of hot chocolate. How different “snow days” are now that my children are grown. Thankfully so because just the thought and remembrance of all that makes me tired…a good tired…but tired nonetheless. So thankful for a God that gives us seasons so that our hearts may be restored. Every season has hardships, but God mixes in just enough grace to get us through.
Blessings,
Bev
What a lovely memory, Bev! I can so imagine it. Thank you for sharing it with all of us.
Bev,
Great memory Bev. I, too, was snowed in for two days. Hard to handle not being able to go anywhere or see people, but I guess this could be God’s way of granting rest!
Blessings 🙂
Snow…God’s way of orchestrating a “Be Still” state of mind…:)
Thank you for this encouragement, Denise…it’s funny because it’s been a Scripture that has kept coming back at me this past week, when reaching out and loving has been harder with a sick child to care for and very little sleep…but then it is precisely the reaching out itself that has blessed me abundantly…it’s like God’s saying: “I know you’re spent…but I’m not and I’ll give you what you need and more.”
I think choosing what good to do is accurate, I have been tired, exhausted, and burned out. If we are weary in well doing, God understands and gives us rest. If we’re not seeing a harvest, maybe, we’re not sowing into good ground, satan comes immediately and takes the Word, I believe I can encourage fellow Christians better, but I even have days whn I feel they’re not listening. Butt let’s keep doing good!
I love the how you pointed out that “living in seasons was God’s idea all along.” Sometimes we feel the need to compare our season of rest to someone else’s busy…and it’s not a fair comparison at all. God does build time to rest into our lives, if we’ll only embrace His agenda over our own. Thank you, Denise. Brilliant bit of motivation that I really needed today… I am truely tired!
Happy Sunday!
Megs
Denise,
Lately I’ve been tired–super tired. My aging dad is going through medical issues and it is hard, but I know I can’t quit now! There will be a time when God will allow rest for my weary soul! Through all this I was able to visit a friend in the hospital and pray for others!
Blessings 🙂