I'm too tired

The phone rang just as I was settling down for the cold wintry evening.  The voice on the other end expressed a need, one that could not wait. Could I just say no? Would I overcome my weariness and go?  God does not always schedule opportunities for doing His work within our work schedule or when we find it convenient. 

Jesus’ disciples had just returned from a missions trip. Mark says that "They went out and preached that people should repent. They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them." (Mark 6:12-13, NIV)  It is not a stretch to imagine that they were both pumped up with excitement and exhausted by their work. "The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place." (Mark 6:30-32, NIV)  It looks like they are going to have time to regroup, to debrief. Every wise Christian will step back regularly for renewal.

On the way to the ‘solitary place,’ they anticipated having Jesus’ attention.  When they arrived, they found that word got out they were coming.  A huge crowd waited. Jesus’ love, His sense of the peoples’ deep spiritual need; “they were like sheep without a shepherd,” caused Him to spend the day teaching them.  As evening approached the disciples came to Jesus and said, “This is a remote place and it’s already very late. Send the people away." (Mark 6:35-36, NIV)  They were tired, done for the day. That’s reasonable, isn’t it?  But. . .

Jesus has another plan that none of them saw coming. He says, “Feed them!”  There were 5000 men, plus women and children, there.  After arguing with Him about the lack of resources, the cost of such an effort, they took on the challenge.  That evening, they participated in an amazing miracle, one that revealed who Jesus was and is – God in flesh, the Bread of Life. Five loaves of bread and two fish multiplied in their hands and when supper was over everybody was satisfied. Just to make the point of His sufficiency, Jesus let them see 12 baskets of left-overs gathered!

If God, the Holy Spirit, asks us to step up when we think it’s time to lie down, we can anticipate that He will provide the energy and resources needed to finish the work. The point is not to be driven by need. That will surely cause us to burn out.  Nor can we simply say, “I’m too tired,” and ignore inconvenient requests.  The saying is true:  “Where God guides, He provides.”  

Will you and I discover the joy being part of His plan by responding with ready obedience?  And, by the way, on that wintry evening, I did get up and go. God, the Spirit, created an opportunity to do His work in a way that proved rewarding and fulfilling and my weariness was forgotten in that moment.

Here is a word from the Word.  May it describe our attitude toward our Lord.

"I look to you, heaven-dwelling God, look up to you for help.
Like servants, alert to their master’s commands,
like a maiden attending her lady,
We’re watching and waiting, holding our breath,
awaiting your word of mercy.
Mercy, God, mercy!"

(Psalm 123:1-3, The Message)

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He Giveth More Grace

He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater.

He sendeth more strength when the labors increase.

To added affliction, He addeth His mercy,

To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.

His love has no limit!

His grace has no measure!

His pow'r has no boundary known unto men.

For out of His infinite riches in Jesus,

He giveth and giveth and giveth again.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance.

When our strength has failed

‘Ere the day is half done.

When we reach the end of our hoarded resources.

Our Father's full giving is only begun.

Annie Johnson Flint | Hubert Mitchell

© Words: Public Domain