Don’t Grow Weary: It’s a Choice

I think we often fall into a trap that weariness is just something we fall victim to. Like a sickness. But I’m increasingly convinced that weariness is a choice. It must be or God wouldn’t repeatedly command us to not grow weary.

The Command: Don’t Grow Weary

A command is something we get to choose to obey or disobey with our own free will. And there are many times where we are commanded to not grow weary. So today, I decided to look into many of them. And each time, we see either a reason why we shouldn’t grow weary or a path to follow to not grow weary or the rewards we receive when we obey this command.

I think we set ourselves up to grow weary in our culture though. Most believers in America don’t honor Sabbath rest or get to bed on time… these are natural rhythms the Lord provided to buffer us from weariness. An overcrowded schedule and too many yeses sets a person up for weariness too.

In all these passages, you’ll see other tips on living a rested, weary-free life. It’s a lifestyle. You’ll see threads of living a quiet life, peaceful, joyful, rejoicing, rested. That’s what we want, isn’t it? So read through these passages and ask God to highlight what changes you need to make in your lifestyle. Because you really can choose to not grown weary. It’s a choice. And there are changes we can make to assist us in that choice.

Reward: Daily Bread

Don’t grow weary in doing good works.

Why? So you can eat! So you can earn your own living! This might seem obvious, but daily bread is a reward for good hard work.

For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.  For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies.  Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good.

2 Thessalonians 3:10-14

Reward: Abundant Harvest

Don’t grow weary in helping others.

Why? Because a harvest is promised to you if you don’t give up!

If you follow your selfish desires, you will harvest destruction, but if you follow the Spirit, you will harvest eternal life.  Don’t grow weary of helping others. You will be rewarded when the time is right, if you don’t give up.  We should help people whenever we can, especially if they are followers of the Lord.

Galatians 6:8-10

Reward: God’s Fatherly Love

Don’t grow weary when you are being disciplined by God. Discipline isn’t always a punishment type thing. We are being disciplined when we work on an exercise routine, when we work to bite our tongue when people insult us, when we practice not arguing, when we practice fasting and prayer. These are all disciplines. And we are encouraged to not grow weary when being disciplined by God…

Why? Because we can take comfort that God only disciplines His children. In our discipline, it’s God showing us His love, His adoption, His care for us. Fathers who don’t care about their kids don’t discipline them. But discipline is a way of discipling, raising, caring, mentoring, growing, and maturing your children.

And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?

“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
    nor be weary when reproved by him.For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
    and chastises every son whom he receives.”

It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 

Hebrews 12:5-7

How do we not grow weary?

Don’t grow weary in living righteously and fighting against sin.

How? By contemplating all Jesus went through, enduring the cross and the hostility and the shame. When we think about what Jesus endured, it gives us strength to not grow weary in what we are called to do:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 

Hebrews 12:1-5

How? Hope in God’s Saving Power

Do not grow weary, don’t let your hands hang limp, and don’t be afraid. How? Because the Lord is mighty to save you! There’s always reason for hope! He delights in you and sings over you, so rejoice and don’t give up hope!

Sing, Daughter Zion;
    shout aloud, Israel!
Be glad and rejoice with all your heart,
    Daughter Jerusalem!
The Lord has taken away your punishment,
    he has turned back your enemy.
The Lord, the King of Israel, is with you;
    never again will you fear any harm.
On that day
    they will say to Jerusalem,
“Do not fear, Zion;
    do not let your hands hang limp.
The Lord your God is with you,
    the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
    in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
    but will rejoice over you with singing.”

Zephaniah 3:14-17

When we remember all that Christ endured, when we remember God’s mighty saving power, this strengthens us to not grow weary! And what are the rewards if we don’t give up? Food on the table, a peaceful and quiet life, righteousness, an abundant harvest, and growing in the grace of being a child of God.

We sometimes act like we are just victims to weariness. But nope. If it’s a command from God to not grow weary, He can empower you to obey.

So next time weariness tries to sneak up on you, just say no. In Jesus’ name and by His power, do not grow weary. Ask the Lord what lifestyle changes you can make to prioritize the kingdom works that matter most. And trust that the abundant harvest is coming, if you do not give up.

Cheers! You can do this!