"Weariness Can Overwhelm"

"Weariness Can Overwhelm"

By: Pastor Jack Schneider

“In [Christ] and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged [weary] because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.”  [Eph.3:12-13, NIV]

Talked with a friend the other day and heard of yet another young person who, for some unknown reason, apparently became discouraged enough to end his life.  How sad, not only that such a precious life should come to an untimely end but, also, that such weariness can overwhelm God’s children.

This expression of discouragement is not common in Scripture.  The particular word here in Ephesians appears only once in the New Testament, and in this context actually means “to be wearied, worn out.” Even so, although the NIV translators rendered it “to be discouraged” here, that unique usage appears in a similar form only one other place: Col.3:21 -- “Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will be come discouraged.” 

Literally, the Colossians passage means that we are to avoid causing our children to lose their passion for life.  The word is “athumos,” which is to be without fierceness, without imagination, without anything that makes us breathe hard…  No wonder the simplest thing is to call it “passion,” but that doesn’t really do it justice. This is why it’s not the same word the Holy Spirit gave Paul to use in Ephesians 3. We can become weary of the things in life as day-to-day circumstances weigh us down, but a kind word at the right time from others goes a long way to picking us up once again. Once a person becomes embittered, however, it’s far more difficult to regain the imagination and creativity that makes a relationship breathe with fire, whether it’s with a parent, spouse, friend or even God Himself.

Yes, even with God. 

Which is worse: to have such a relationship with your Lord and lose it, or to never have such closeness in the first place?  Both, of course, are tragic. The former, however, can be restored by God’s grace, and once again you will be free to know the joy and passion of loving even as you are loved.  The latter, on the other hand, means never knowing the height and depths to which God has gone and will go to draw you to Himself, simply because of who He is in grace.

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” [Mk.12:30]  And breathe, deeply, for you are His.

- Jack