Tag: weary

Tired of Doing Good?

On By vickleaIn Admonition, prayer, Scripture4 Comments

It is very easy for me to get up and right away declare that I am tired. Sometimes, it’s because I didn’t sleep long enough, and other times it is because I didn’t sleep well enough. But that is not the tired I am talking about today. Today I want to address the walking away from those who have needs that we can do something about because we are just too self-centered to want to step out of our comfort zone and lend a hand. God’s word tells us not to get “weary in doing good.” For me, I find myself weary of helping others when I don’t feel appreciated. But that is not what the verse says. It doesn’t say to stop doing good if you don’t feel appreciated and no one thanks you. I remember the ten lepers whom Jesus healed and only one came back to thank Him. What if the Lord had said, “That’s it! I’m done. I did all of this and one…only one thanked me. It’s just not worth it!” But He didn’t. Jesus continued to reach out and touch and change lives all the way until the end of His ministry. In fact, even on the cross, He reached out to the thieves on either side of Him. Always selfless and ready to sacrifice. He is our model for doing good and how long we should keep doing it. We may never see people change or show gratitude towards us or to the Lord, but we have to keep doing because the harvest is coming one day, even if we don’t see it.

A prayer from the YouVersion today. I hope you will join me in saying this prayer wholeheartedly, mean it and look forward to ways to be like Jesus so that others see Him in you.

Renewed Strength

On By vickleaIn YouVersion App1 Comment

Our True Hope

Life can be difficult sometimes. All of us go through seasons filled with difficulty, grief, or loss. And even if you haven’t experienced those things yet, you’ve probably had moments where you’ve grown tired of doing good. As much as we want to live well and do good to others, the truth is that we will all grow weary of it at some point.

In Isaiah 40:31, Isaiah says that those who hope in God will find renewed strength. The key to perseverance in difficult seasons is not simply pushing through and trying harder. Strength isn’t found in simply hoping our circumstances will change.

God’s Word says that true strength comes from placing our hope in God. Because God is all-powerful, He alone has the power to change our circumstances. But God also knows that as humans, we grow weary and restless. We often place our hope in temporary solutions when we should be relying on God, who can truly help us.

But when we place our hope in God alone, Scripture tells us we will find renewed strength to endure life’s challenges. Hoping in God means trusting in His promises—even if we don’t see them fulfilled in our lifetime.

During this season of Advent and time of reflection, how can you allow the Lord to renew your hope in God? Allow Him to search your heart. Pray that you will be filled with the strength and hope that only God can provide.

Hostility and Hope

On By vickleaIn Scripture1 Comment

There is no doubt in my mind that we live in a world that is hostile to the things of God. There is also no doubt in my mind that God put us here for a reason and we need to fulfill His purpose for our lives in spite of the hostility that surrounds us.

Jesus was crucified because of the hostility that people felt towards Him. Their jealousy and short-sightedness led them to force our Savior to die a horrible death on the cross. But did He quit, slink away and hide and hope no one continued to bother him with their petty, ungodly beliefs? No! He stood for the truth, went courageously to the cross and carried out God’s plan for our salvation. If we just keep in mind all that Jesus endured, the hostility that we face won’t seem so insurmountable anymore.

I like the phrase in this verse that says, “you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.” We may be called to do so one day, to stand before the ungodly and defend out faith. And when that happens, may we be found worthy to glorify God even unto death. Yes, we are struggling against darkness, a sin that seems so prevalent that the world seems to have gone insane. But we are still called to stand for righteousness and truth, regardless of the consequences to us. Our hope is not in this world. Our hope lies in our ultimate salvation from the world and the eternal life that awaits us. Thus, we can continue to fight against the sin of the world and carry hope in our hearts.

Don’t Give Up

On By vickleaIn Scripture4 Comments

I have heard a lot of discouraged people bemoaning the state of the world and the rampant sin that is taking over. God told us that this was coming, so we shouldn’t be surprised. Neither should we give up on the mission that He left for us to do.

The “he” in this Scripture is Jesus (read all of Hebrews 12 for the context). Jesus endured all kinds of spiteful treatment even before He was nailed to the cross. The Pharisees and Sadducees kept trying to trap him into saying something that would turn the people against him. They were incensed at his popularity and wanted to find a way to discredit him so kept asking him “trick” questions. For Jesus, though, they were like little bugs biting at him to no avail. He did not give up on the mission that God had sent Him to complete, i.e. the salvation of mankind and the establishment of a new covenant. Jesus gave His life for our sins and the author here points out (perhaps somewhat prophetically) that the readers have not yet given their lives for the cause of the Gospel. Of course, many early believers were martyred for their faith later; that’s why I say this could be prophetic. Nevertheless, we are called upon to be like Jesus and not to give up. When the world gets darker, we are to shine brighter. When the world seems to have lost their way, we are to show them the only way. When all seems lost, we are to remember that Jesus was and is victorious! No matter what ridicule or condemnation we face in this life, it will be worth it in the end because we will see Jesus and live with Him forever. The MSM paints Christian conservatives as a fringe group, but we are the Army of the Victorious Savior, and we are not giving up on the fight to win souls for Him. We will never give up, never turn away, never stop fighting in His Name for righteousness and truth!

Thankful for God’s Refreshing

On By vickleaIn Scripture3 Comments

Sometimes I just get tired, long before my normal bedtime and before I really want to retire. My brain gets kind of foggy and I stumble a little as I walk, so I know that it is time to rest. Every time this happens, God provides me with total rest, a night in which I sleep peacefully without constantly awakening. My mind has its own way of dealing with stress and at times it just won’t stop whirring. That is when I call on God to give me the rest and peace that I need.

It is in resting that my mind and body and most especially my soul are refreshed. I wake up ready to tackle the new day, with energy flowing from deep within me. That is no small feat for someone who is in their seventies, but it happens each time I honestly admit to God that I need Him to provide a restful night for me, one without insomnia and constant wakefulness. And each night, He gives me rest and I awaken refreshed, with a clear mind and thoughts that are organized and orderly. It is so much easier to walk on the right path when I am guided by the Lord!

I am so thankful for God’s refreshing me when I sleep. But He also refreshes my soul when I am fully alert. He gives me His Word to read that provides water to my thirsty soul, like a fountain in a desert place. God is always willing to refresh me, but most times I get too busy with life to take the time to sit quietly and wait for the refreshing. After all, one does not go to the soda fountain, order a nice big soda to quench one’s thirst and then walk away. I have been guilty of doing that in the past. I tell God that I need refreshing and then I get busy, my thoughts wander and I walk away before He has provided the refreshment. I am so thankful that He doesn’t give up on me and my pettiness but continues to provide for me when I come back to His fountain and tell Him that I am ready to sit, listen and receive.

May you have a wonderful day filled with God’s blessing and refreshing!

Thankful for the Harvest

On By vickleaIn Scripture3 Comments

Thanksgiving is part of the harvest season. My understanding is that the pilgrims celebrated the bountiful harvest with the Native Americans who had planted it. Both were thankful for the food that was the result of the hard work that they had put into the soil. But the harvest that I am thankful for is the harvest of all of the souls that God is reaping. We have the benefit and the great pleasure of participating in that harvest by sowing the seeds into the hearts of the unbelievers and then waiting for the seed to ripen and bear fruit.

Sometimes it is hard to wait for the harvest to come. Sitting out in the field watching the corn will not make it grow any faster. But watering it, weeding it and caring for it diligently will assist in the growth that is going to come at the “proper time.”

God knows the time when the harvest is ripe and if you and I are not there with the person whose seed of faith we sowed, it will be okay, because God will provide someone else to reap. We should be thankful to be included in God’s miraculous plan of salvation.

We cannot sit around and moan because others get to do the reaping. Like the pilgrims once did, we just joyously celebrate the bountiful harvest and be glad that many souls are added to God’s kingdom for eternity. We are not in competition with one another to see how many we can bring to Heaven with us. We are all working together for the same goal, the glory of God and the eternal salvation of friends, family and even strangers.

The fall crops are mostly harvested now. The winter crops are in the ground, waiting for their harvest time. And the bumper crop of spring is right around the corner. God knows when the best time for harvesting is for each soul, and I am thankful that I am part of His harvest and even more thankful that I can tell others about Him and the truth of His Word. Yes, I am thankful for the harvest and for each of you who is part of it. What are you thankful for today?

May God bless you today with eyes that see the fields ripe and ready to harvest and the other fields that need seeds to be sown. We are blessed to be a blessing!

Resting

On By vickleaIn Scripture1 Comment

My husband and I both got sick this week. We have some kind of flu, with coughing and sneezing and a low fever. In short, we have been pretty miserable. Harry got sick first, starting with symptoms on Wednesday night. My heart clutched once I heard him coughing because I just about always catch any germs that float around me since my immune system is compromised. Well, I lasted until Friday and then came the drainage down my throat and the plethora of asthma meds that I take so that I can breathe without struggling.

As I prepared for bed last night, I was concerned that I would not be able to sleep since breathing is more difficult once I lie down. I left my husband in the den watching his game and taking his med, used my nebulizer and headed to bed. It was amazing! After praying for all the Lord brought to my mind, I said a simple prayer asking God to give me the rest I needed to get stronger. I was amazed (I guess I should have not been so surprised) when I awakened this morning after having more sleep than I normally get when I am well. Rest is a gift from the Lord, just as each breath we take.

I awoke coughing, but I also awoke feeling rested. Praise God for His answer to prayer!

God gave us the example of resting and knows that our bodies need it. As I have aged, I have found that by late afternoon just about daily, I need a nap. It’s not just that I want to take a nap. I get a little fuzzy brained and I know that I really need to lie down and refresh my body. Yesterday, I tried to take a nap but I coughed too much and couldn’t really rest. So, I was somewhat surprised that I was able to rest all night without choking and grabbing my rescue inhaler. God is so good! He answers prayers for the weak, the weary and even those who don’t have high expectations for the answer.

My testimony is that of Jeremiah the prophet. God satisfied me with a pleasant sleep and I feel better today. I am still taking all of my meds, using my nebulizer and inhalers and nasal spray, but I am feeling stronger. I am so thankful that the Lord who created me knows what I need and provides it for me. Peaceful rest, away from the feelings of gasping for air and gagging on mucus. God loves me, even when I am too weary to exercise my faith properly.

May the Lord bless you with His rest and His peace today and throughout the week.

Don’t Give Up

On By vickleaIn Scripture3 Comments

www.bible.com/1171/heb.12.3.mev

Never, never give up! Jesus faced hostility on every hand, up to and including death on the cross. Yet He never stopped ministering to the needy and speaking truth to the people who desperately needed to hear it. We say that we are living in hard times. Well, so were the Israelites as they were under the mighty and ruthless hand of the Roman government. Who has it tougher? That’s not a question we can answer because those living during a particular time only have the viewpoint of their own timeline in which they are living. I’m sure that the Israelites thought that they had it tougher and I’m equally sure that the “man on the street” whom you ask would reply that today is tougher. Nevertheless, Jesus ministered. He walked the walk and talked the talk. He said that what He spoke and did was what His Father in Heaven had told Him to say and do. Can we do any less? We need to spend time in prayer, ask God what He wants us to do and say and then do it and say it. We cannot grow weary just because things are hard. Following Jesus’s lead, we should never give up. There are souls who need to hear the Gospel and for whom we are the hands and feet of Jesus. Let’s move, Army of God! We have our orders and they don’t say to sit and wait passively for His coming! Our orders say to work and to go! God bless you as you complete your mission.