Woman to Woman: Overcoming Weariness in the Christian Walk

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 sometimes brings weariness.

Earnestly seeking God's wisdom, along with a petition for relief yielded an unexpected answer.

Containing two elements, my answer seemed disconnected. Pointing me to Galatians 6:9, made sense; 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.

An often overlooked area of well-doing involves enduring hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. (2 Timothy 2:3)

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; fleshly revolts and attacks from the enemy of our souls is inevitable.

OVERCOMING WEARINESS IN THE CHRISTIAN WALK

Facing the relentless spiritual battle, revealed my attitude of entitlement, sprinkled with a lack of meekness, patience, and fortitude in my life.

Recognition and repentance for my entitlement attitude moved me into position for cultivating these much needed traits. 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."

Characteristics of Fortitude:

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.

Characteristics of Patience:

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 reflects a steady, calm influence maintaining equanimity in the face of difficulty.

Commitment. While I exhibit patience as my initial response, many trials and spiritual attacks stretch on, testing my commitment, resulting in my wavering and faltering. True patience remains steadily and contentedly committed to the faith, trusting in the truth of God's Word.

Meekness

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."

Characteristics of Meekness:

Power under control. While I submit to trials and hardships, underneath, my pride chafes at injustice, often spilling out as 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.

Reviewing the definitions of fortitude, patience, and meekness reveals their 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 endows us with courage to face hardness, its steadfastness and resolve find endurance through the self-discipline 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.

How do you struggle with weariness in your Christian walk?