Jesus Got Tired and So Do We
Jesus Got Tired and So Do We
I'm tired, so tired. Our city/county which has been on 50 max gathering since June (locked down from March until June) is now on the 2nd lock down in 9 months. Cases in our area are rising and people are back in the hospitals, so we must stay home. But not everything is cancelled this time. Schools are allowed to stay open, government offices can stay open and business can stay open UNLESS you are a restaurant or bar then no indoor dining. The worst of it? The local government has now told us that we cannot gather with more than 10 people. No family gatherings, no friends or neighbors coming together. No celebrating of Thanksgiving, and who knows about Christmas. This time they say 4 weeks, last time they said 2 weeks and it lasted 2 months. I am preparing for this to be our life for the winter. To not see friends, not worship in church, not see extended family, not meet our new nephew. I'm tired.
Tired of someone else controlling my life. Tired of my kids missing out on SO much. Tired of all the information and lies and propaganda. Tired of the protests, the riots, the fighting, shootings, anger. Tired of living in such a broken world full of sinful people. Tired of the persecution. We are all Tired.
But then, I stopped and I realized being tired isn't all that bad. I remember what God has done in the past. I remember the Israelites being slaves to the Egyptians. Living a life as slaves to another nation, a nation that killed their young, defiled their God and lived in sin. I remember the Israelites being freed from Egypt by the GRACE of God. Being led into the desert, not trusting God and spending 40 years until they would enter the Promised Land.
I remember Esther. Esther lived a quiet life until she was chosen to become Queen and was chosen again to save her people. Esther who could have been killed for speaking out. Esther who must have been so tired of the evil her people were experiencing. I remember Rahab. Rahab, a prostitute living in sin in a sinful city. Waiting and waiting for something in her life but not knowing what until she met the spies and came to know their God. Her city was destroyed, everything demolished, but not her she was SAVED. SAVED for her faith in God and SAVED by HIS GRACE. Don't you think she was tired? Don't you think she was tired of the life she was living? Tired of the sins she saw around her? Just Tired.
I think of Noah and his family. Noah the ONLY man of GOD that could be found in his nation. Building a boat that God told him to make, taking years, and waiting. Waiting for the rain to come and hearing the mocking of those around him. I bet he was tired. Tired of the hard work of building a boat, a thing that had never been seen or done before. Tired of defending himself and God. Tired of working in a confined space with all those animals for 40 days. Tired of sea and ready for land. Just Tired.
I remember Jesus. Jesus is God but is also Man. Jesus got tired. Jesus needed sleep. Jesus was tired of this world.
John 4:6 says "Jacob’s well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour"
Jesus was tired from his journey, so tired he needed a break, he needed a drink. He sat down and asked the woman there for a drink, something to help his weariness. Even when tired he still worked, he still spoke Life and Truth.
John 4:21-26 "Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” 25The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” 26Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.”
John 4:34-38 "Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. 35Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. 36Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. 37For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.”
Maybe this is the time for harvesting. Maybe this is the time to reach those who have heard but not believed. Maybe not. Maybe there aren't people in your life who are ready to commit to Christ. Maybe your time is to sow. Maybe you have been called to share Christ's love. To plant a seed. To push through your tiredness and proclaim Christ. Maybe that's what we are called to do.
I am tired. We all are tired. Let's lean on Christ during our tiredness. Let's be a LIGHT during these difficult times. Times of uncertainty, fear, doubt and pain. There is so much pain and there is only 1 person who can take that pain away. Share Him with others. Let others come to Salvation in their Lord. I leave you with this. If you are tired, fearful, uncertain, angry, try this 1 thing everyday. Whenever you are feeling anger, resentment, unfairness, tired, look around you and find 1 thing that you are thankful for. 1 thing that God has blessed you with and see how that changes your perspective.
Dear God, we are tired. In the midst of our weariness, use us for your kingdom, for your glory, and for the benefit of your people.
Until next time,
Amy
Diane Schulz
ReplyDeleteAmen. Do not become weary in doing good!