The Things We Say to Ourselves

"Let us not grow weary." (Galatians 6:9)

Have these ever crossed your mind. I do not know if I have what it takes. This is too hard. Life feels like it is caving in on me. I am losing ground, losing my footing. I am not sure I am the one Jesus picked for this. I have messed up too many times. I do not want to wait anymore. There are too many obstacles in front of me. They have more than I have, better resources, more support, an easier road. Everyone and everything is against me.

That is not a list built to scold anyone. Nearly every honest believer has said most of those sentences to himself, some of them this year, and the reason we do not say them out loud is that we assume everyone else is doing fine. They are not. The person beside you on Sunday is running the same tape, and both of you are certain you are the only one.

The Bible is full of weariness, and it is not embarrassed by it. Elijah asked to die under a tree. Jeremiah cursed the day he was born. David asked how long, again and again, and God kept the words in the songbook on purpose. The Scriptures never once shame a weary person for being weary. The only thing they ask is that you do not lie down permanently. Being exhausted is not a failure of faith. Staying down, and calling the ground your home, is the only thing to guard against. Say the sentence if you must. Then get up.