I’d worked at it for the better part of thirty minutes. My arms shook, and sweat soaked me under the blaze of the Florida sun. I was weary.
The job? Taming my overgrown wax myrtle hedge. I used an electric hedge trimmer and had a long extension cord. But they were like David’s pebbles in the face of my personal Goliath. Still, my five-foot-five-inch body leaned and stretched atop a five-foot ladder, whacking away at the seven-foot hedge. I would conquer this chore.
After what felt more like hours, I shaped the scruffy shrub back into tidy, rounded lines and climbed down. Arms still vibrating from the trimmer’s power, I stared at the bush and sucked in a deep, satisfied breath. Then I looked around me. Leavings of my efforts littered the ground. I wiped my forehead and sighed—still more work.
How often do we stop in the middle of our journey and look at our lives, relationship with God and others, and think, Still more work? Tired, if not exhausted, by our efforts, we can’t help but wonder if all the labor is worth it. And the hard truth is, sometimes it isn’t.
But even if we’re doing God’s work, like serving in the church’s daycare or leading a Bible study, we can get caught up in the do more and be more of our culture. We forget striving and straining aren’t a part of God’s calling for our lives. His yoke is easy, and His burden is light.
The next time you feel weary, worn out, or even burned out, take a moment to chat with God. Ask Him to remind you of the work He called you to do, not what you chose. See if the two align. His answer might surprise you.
What are some ways you can avoid weariness?
(photo courtesy of pixabay.com.)
(For more devotions, visit Christian Devotions.)
Good thoughts. Thanks. I am actually sitting here having just finished a short writing project and consciously aware that I have somewhere else to be and many more chores before the day is done. These are important too, so maybe a talk wit God about which ones to prioritize is in order.
An excellent analogy to these vital verses. God used these to literally change my life 27 yrs ago, but it is always good to be reminded. Thank you!