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Are You Weary?

September 30, 2015

Ever notice when you decide to do something ‘right’, you are immediately tested?

If I decide that I should lose weight, someone has a birthday and I have to make ice cream cake.

If I decide that I should respect my husband better, he bugs me and I’m not nice.

If I tell myself that I will not yell at my child, he requires more patience.

What about deeper things?

I know that marriage is for life, but do I consider other options?

I know that children are a blessing, but do I limit how many I have?
I know that staying out of debt gives freedom, but what exceptions are acceptable?

Why must my commitment be tested?

Commitment is acting out your faith.
James 1:2 tells me, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.”

Hebrews 11:1 defines faith. “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

Read through Hebrews 11. See the people who chose right, even when tested.

My faith is small—I’m not asked to sacrifice my sons. I’m not asked to die for my faith.

Hebrews 12:1-2 tells me to expect problems. “…let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”

God tells me that I will get entangled by the ‘stuff’ of life.
But He also tells me how to win over it.

Where do I get this faith that stands against the testing?
Read Hebrews 12:2. “Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Christ was not just a good example of how we should be right and do good.
He is the source of our faith.
He is the perfecter of our faith.

Without Him, we have no faith.
What does that faith do?
Reread James 1:2. Faith gives endurance, “so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:3)
Are you weary? Are you trying to stand for right and falling?
Are you doing it on your own?
You can’t. Your faith will never be strong enough.
Focus on Him.
When I see Him, the ice cream does not tempt me.
When I see Him, the little annoyances don’t bug me.
When I see Him, I can see others through His eyes.
Even with the bigger things, like having another child, when I see Him, I can choose to do what is right.
Or making the effort to resolve conflict with my husband, so that I can live with him.
Or believing God will provide without borrowing or living on credit, because He said that I could.
Even in the bigger things, I see Him, and the things grow dim.
The song writer said it well:

O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.

Is your faith being tested?
Look to him and don’t be weary.
You will be given faith.
You will endure.

Words of Hymn Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus by Helen Howarth Lemmel, 1922

Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE, Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.



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Author of Biblical fiction, married to my best friend, and challenged by eight sons’ growing pains as I write about what matters.

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Faith
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