Overcoming Weariness in Well-Doing

Reluctantly, I admit despite the exhortation in Galatians 6:9, I grow weary in well-doing. Helping others, investing in the Kingdom of God and committing time to my own spiritual growth brings a deep joy to my soul. Perhaps because I often see immediate rewards for my efforts. But recently noticing an area of chronic lassitude, God trained my awareness on the need for overcoming weariness in well-doing in a long neglected realm of my spiritual life.

During one of my times of stillness, I recall lamenting a particular battle I faced on a basis more regular than I desired. Earnestly seeking God’s wisdom, along with a petition for relief yielded an unexpected answer. My answer contained two elements, which in my mind were not connected. Pointing me to Galatians 6:9, made sense; yes maintain steadfastness in doing good works, even when results seem delayed. But equating the daily spiritual battle with well-doing? Somehow I never made that connection.

weariness in well-doing

Overcoming weariness in well-doing involved understanding the exact purpose of well-doing in my life. “Well-doing” in the Christian’s life nuances works of service, attention to personal spiritual growth as well as instruction to the saints, and obedience to God and His call on our lives.

But an often overlooked area of well-doing involves enduring hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. (2 Timothy 2:3) Though the sufficiency of God’s grace abounds in every situation, it does not, however, exempt us from enduring hardness. Facing the relentless daily spiritual battle, which at times of late raged fiercer, revealed an attitude of entitlement, sprinkled with a lack of meekness, patience and fortitude in my life.

the source of weariness in well-doing

Grasping a fuller understanding of well-doing in my Christian life helped me gain the proper perspective on my daily spiritual battles. Enduring hardness as a good soldier, is well-doing. If we engage in works of service, attention to personal spiritual growth, and obedience to God’s call on our lives, hardness in the form of trials, fleshly revolts and attacks from the enemy of our souls is inevitable.

The source of weariness in well-doing for me resulted from my own attitude of entitlement thinking “I suffered enough”, and deserved a “break”. Subtle expectations of God’s favor crept in, causing me to stumble at every unpleasant turn of events. Overcoming weariness in well-doing meant a change of perspective and a yielding to the Spirit’s work in my life.

overcoming weariness in well-doing

My first step in overcoming weariness in well-doing necessitated confronting my entitlement attitude and outcome based expectations. Both have roots firmly in pride and an inflated sense of self importance.

Sadly, I saw the clear pattern of immediate complaint or wails of lament upon encountering trials or spiritual attack. Instead of running to God for strength to bravely endure the attacks, or counting the trials all joy (James 1:2-5) that my faith might grow, I wailed about the injustice. My prayers contained only pleas for extrication, rather than God’s perfect will and His ultimate glory.

At times this pattern plunged me into perpetual periods of disappointment because of unmet expectations I harbored about God’s treatment of me.

strength for overcoming

Recognition and repentance for my entitlement attitude and outcome based expectations of God’s favor moved me into position for cultivating much needed fortitude, meekness and patience. Though seemingly unrelated, these three “virtues” boast an inter-dependence which remains as strong as a three-fold cord.

Fortitude

A simple definition of fortitude according to the Webster’s 1828 dictionary is, “That strength or firmness of mind or soul which enables a person to encounter danger with coolness and courage, or to bear pain or adversity without murmuring, depression or despondency.“ Ouch. The fortitude I thought I possessed was nothing more than foolhardy bravado; yes I ran into the fray, but just as quickly, I retreated. The fortitude needed by a good solider required far more than empty bravado.

• Steadfastness. While I demonstrated courage in facing down adversity, it remained a short-lived courage. True fortitude focuses on the goals and sees difficulties through to the end.
• Resolve. Courage takes the first step, but resolve carries you to the end. True fortitude stays the course regardless of obstacles, without complaint, melancholy or loss of faith.

Patience

Today’s culture often views patience simply as a stance we take upon waiting for an outcome or answer. But Webster’s 1828 dictionary gives a fuller definition: “The suffering of afflictions, pain, toil, calamity, provocation or other evil, with a calm, unruffled temper; endurance without murmuring or fretfulness.” Webster further adds the nuance, “patience may spring from constitutional fortitude, or from christian submission to the divine will. While many people describe me as patient, clearly much work still remained undone.

• Self-discipline. The patience I exhibit has a form of self-control in that I contain my annoyance or displeasure outwardly. Inwardly and towards God, I harbor complaints and impatience for my desired outcome. True patience is a steady, calm influence maintaining equanimity in the face of difficulty, which avoids anger or excessive sadness.
• Commitment. While I exhibit patience as my initial response, many trials and spiritual attacks stretch on, testing my commitment, resulting in wavering and faltering commitment. True patience remains steadily and contentedly committed to the faith, trusting in the truth of God’s Word.

Meekness

No other word boasts more misunderstanding than the word, “meekness”. An online dictionary defined meekness as “overt submissiveness“, with the illustration sentence, “all his friends made fun of him for his meekness.” With the portrayal of meekness in such a negative light, no wonder most Christian’s remain confused as to its place as a fruit of the Spirit and even more clueless on how to cultivate this much needed virtue.

Webster’s 1828 dictionary defines meekness as follows: “Softness of temper; mildness; gentleness; forbearance under injuries and provocations.” Adding the clarification statement, “humility; resignation; submission to the divine will, without murmuring or peevishness; opposed to pride, arrogance and refractoriness.“ Again, while I have displayed a form of meekness on occasion, in no way did it possess the fullness seen here.

• Power under control. While I submit to trials and hardships, underneath my pride chafes at injustice, often spilling out as empassioned, righteous indignation. True meekness mitigates anger with gentleness, maintaining authority over pride and selfish ambition.
• Submission without discontent. Yes, I submit to God’s chosen will in trials and His permissive will in spiritual attack, but not without discontent. True meekness willingly, cheerfully and peacefully submits to God, trusting Him fully with any injustice.

overcoming weariness with a three fold cord

A cursory glance through the definitions of fortitude, patience and meekness reveals their commonality and connection. But a deeper scrutiny unveils their inter-dependence. All three words display tremendous strength; bound together, they possess an invincible force for the Christian.

Fortitude embues us with the courage to face hardness, its steadfastness and resolve find endurance through the self-discipline and commitment of patience. Meekness brings the fire of fortitude under submission to the divine will, guarding it from selfish ambition. Empowering both the courage of fortitude and the commitment of patience with the settled joy of God’s sovereignty and justice.

Ovecoming weariness in well-doing results from willing submission to the Holy Spirit’s work in cultivating this three fold cord, as a means for trusting God with the results of our works of service, spiritual growth and obedience to His call on our life, while enduring the hardness of trials and spiritual attacks bravely without complaint or discontent.

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