Try the latest Words of Life as Spotify Podcasts.

Tip: To see latest Words of Life, use Refine Search to list by Year. If using Mobile device, Refine Search may be located at end of page.

As believers, we understand this sublime and excellent promise of our Lord as well as many other promises.  Inspite of this, we must confess that it is applicable to us today, as it was to the disciples of Jesus at that time, to whom the Master had to say, “Oh ye of little faith”.

After a long strenuous working day, we all certainly experience weariness according to our age as well as our natural and spiritual wellbeing. Sometimes just one day can have so much in it! We are reminded of the utterance of God in Genesis 3:19. “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread”. This bodily fatigue will be overcome by following natural laws in paying attention to rest, sleep and diet. Worldwide, many of life’s necessities are lacking. Our eternal God has created to the uttermost part of the earth, and strength and energy are available if we ruled in love instead of selfishness and egoism and shared. When sickness hinders the renewal of strength, we try to find out the cause. We visit the doctor. Following an examination, medicine and advice would be prescribed according to the diagnosis. Radial changes in lifestyle may well be advised, which demand sacrifices and a change of attitude.

The weariness expressed in Isaiah is spiritual, experienced under the weight of the cross and suffering. Constant attacks by Satan and the world place demands on our spiritual strength. By acceptance of what God offers in word and sacrament, through prayer and living out our faith, strength will be renewed again and again in a healthy spiritual body. When an active part is taken therein, the soul is given an increase in growth. The permanence in the Apostle teaching, in fellowship and breaking of bread, gives ongoing strength as mentioned above. The goodness is yes so close, whereby heaven and earth with God and humans meet.

There exists also the fatigue from wrong attitude and conduct. Perhaps because we don’t always put on our spiritual armament as it is described in Ephesians 6:10-20: perhaps as a result of persevering in sinful demands: perhaps because of the lack of affection towards the riches of God. Religion can then really become a laborious thing but there is help guaranteed. This help takes effect when we take a strong hand in our mental attitude whereby the strength from above again can help us. Is not the great spiritual physician Jesus Christ, able to help us? Certainly, he is able to help us if we reach out to Him.

Using a picture of nature and the cosmos to make all aware of the evidence of the power and might of God, the prophet strengthened their weak faith. Let us look to Jesus and visualize His attitude as He Himself was tempted (His temptation in the wilderness Matt. 4) or His mocking and taunting on the cross (Matt. 27:40, Mark 15:31). What about the miracles He did? And His resurrection? Did He not conquer and defeat Satan?  What a greatness! What miraculous power was at work! We have a wonderful competent helper in Him, our Master Jesus Christ. Look above and lift yourself upwards. To him that overcometh will I have to eat of the hidden manna (Rev. 2:17). This spiritual food has been given to us in Christ Jesus and produces strength, courage and endurance during battle and attack. It gives patience, power for obedience, hope and watchfulness.

It keeps us alive and enables us to progress upwards along the narrow, pilgrim’s way, always coming closer to the goal. This communication is vital, the promised land where Christ dwells is attainable when we look towards Him and walk in His footsteps. As a human, Jesus also became weary, experienced hunger and thirst, but never lacked courage or doubted. Until the final battle and victory, Jesus walked in obedient trust along the way set out by His Father. At the right time He received power from on high to endure scorn and ridicule, fear and anguish, and finally the terrible death on the cross. May we ever hold His example before our eyes. Let us be doers of His word as Paul urged Gal. 6:9 “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap if we faint not.”

Now another kind of weariness, or more to the point, related to fatigue. The word “unable or incapable” is more accurate and in Matt. 5:3-4, we find it written and in the deepest sense of the text word we find: “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”  Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.”

We are exhorted to look up to Jesus the Son of God. That we can only do when we recognize our own weakness. A proud person will not do that, and a strong person does not find that necessary. “Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord.” (Jer. 17: 5).

We shall and may stand in our own inability.  It allows us to flee to Jesus, so that His power and strength may become our own.