Don’t Grow Weary

On By Beth AlisanIn Uncategorized

“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” -Galatians 6:9

Nova, my brother’s dog and Adi’s littermate is passionate about the retrieve.  A fitting passion for a Labrador Retriever, especially one who works out of a duck blind.  The mere sight of a ball will send her dancing with excitement.  Emphatic barks clearly communicate her desire to engage in a good, long round of fetch.  I’m always amazed as I watch her chase down a ball.  With each retrieve, she gives 110%.   She’s fast, agile, and ready for more. 

One afternoon as I watched Nova retrieve the ball, I found myself admiring her ability to recognize her level of weariness.  When she grew tired, she’d drop the ball at my feet and plop down in a superman sprawl.  After a few moments of full body rest, she’d hop up and be ready to chase down the ball again.  Her passion and excitement for the retrieve never waned.

In that moment, a verse came bubbling up from my heart- “Do not grow weary in doing good.”

To be honest, I had come into this game of fetch with Nova feeling very weary.  Weary about the very things I’m passionate about and that bless others.

Weary of teaching

Weary of writing

Weary of encouraging

Weary of . . .

Nova reminded me of the importance of monitoring myself and taking timely moments of rest.  Our gracious heavenly Father even spelled out that timely moment of rest by giving us the Sabbath (Exodus 20:8-10).  A day set aside each week to rest with Him and disconnect from

work,

the worries of this world,

 the harried pace of the digital age,

 and the persistent lies of Satan that say I’m not doing enough or failing at what I am doing.

It’s a day to follow the Good Shepherd and lie down in green pastures and to be led beside quiet water so that He can restore my soul.  (Psalm 23)

A day to be reminded that “I need Thee every hour.” (Psalm 145: 18)

As a new year gets underway and others embrace their word of the year or embark on achieving their New Year’s resolution, I want to fully keep the Sabbath.   I want to embrace the rest God has so graciously imparted so that I may passionately pursue Him and the work He has given me to do.

“There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from His.”

Hebrews 4: 9-10

© 2019-2023, Lessons from a Lab, Beth Alisan.  All Rights Reserved.

47 thoughts on “Don’t Grow Weary”

  1. Might it be that in God’s economy, money and time work in similar ways? How often have I heard people affirm that when they started giving tithes and offerings to God, they never missed those dollars. Somehow God always made up the difference; sometimes they weren’t even sure how. My husband and I have experienced the same. Perhaps time work the same way. If we take the time to rest as an exercise of trust, might we discover we never miss those hours that we could have been working? I have a feeling it’s true!

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    1. So well said Betty- physical rest position is easier to attain than the mind rest position. How generous God is in His command to rest (mind and body.) I remember as a child hating when my mother would look at my younger brother and I about mid afternoon and tell us it was time to go to our rooms for some “rest time.” “You don’t need to take a nap, you just need to rest,” she’d add to our “We’re not sleepy” protests. Too often I put up the same protest with my Heavenly Father. I hope you have a lovely and restful weekend.

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  3. We do need to rest! There is always the temptation to keep doing more and more. When we rest as God has asked for us to do, we are refreshed. This is a timely post as the New Year often brings long lists of resolutions for people to do even more! Life is a gift. Our Heavenly Father knows all of our needs and all of our dreams. We must trust Him with knowing what is best for us. We are not at our best when we are exhausted and tired, and that is why He wants us to rest in Him and find the peace that only He can give. (Thank you for this wonderful reminder!!! I needed to read this today!) Happy New Year!

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    1. It’s amazing how strong that temptation to do more and more is. What’s worse is how it camouflages itself as a noble thing. I love what you wrote, “Our Heavenly Father knows all of our needs and all of our dreams. We must trust Him with knowing what is best for us.” Happy New Year Linda, eager to read more “Reflections from an Open Window” in the year to come.

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  4. Beth, this is a great and timely lesson–thanks. It reaffirmed a “no” I had to say last night so that I can rightly say “yes” when the opportunity is from God. The accuser has been trying to guilt me into overextending. Shalom dear sister in Christ.

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    1. Thank you Manette! Oh how I hate the fiery dart of guilt the enemy can so quickly fire off. I’m so glad that this lesson came as an affirmation of a “no.” In this new year to come, may the Lord continue to bless the work of your hand as you write, minister to others, and live in the “yes” of the opportunities He has sent your way.

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    1. Thank you Tierney! Both Nova and Adi have mastered the art of rest. I would do better if I took my rest ques from them. More than once I’ve envied the simplicity of a dog’s life especially dogs who are as well loved and cared for as Adi, Nova, and Mike.

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  6. Wonderful lesson Beth! I love the gift of Sabbath and sadly rarely fully rest to the full. I will remember Nova’s lesson next time I am excited about working and yet need to lie down. Happy New Year and God bless!

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  7. I agree, Beth, that the Sabbath rest is something that is often way too overlooked today. Rest in general is overlooked. I know I fight the urge to always be busy, but the older I get the more I realize that rest is so important for me and also for those I care for. If I am weary, then I do no one any good. I have also been realizing lately that I cannot possibly take care of everyone that I would love to help. My time and strength is limited. But I can pray, and that is really the most important thing that I can do for others. I so appreciate your writing. You always speak to me. Have a very blessed New Year!

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    1. Thank you for your lovely comment, Patty! I love how you point out the power of prayer especially when physically we can’t help as we would like. I too fight that urge to stay busy, I’m afraid it’s both an inherited and learned quality. Even when I do sit down, I keep my hands busy with crocheting or cross stitching or my mind busy reading. True full out rest seems so elusive and I know it’s something I need to work on cultivating this year.

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      1. I agree that true rest is elusive, especially in our busy culture. And for me, rest without guilt is something I need to cultivate…not feeling lazy. There is a difference between Sabbath rest and being lazy. You have given me much to think about!

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  8. An important lesson Beth, first taught us by Father God Himself at Creation. Being faithful to the Sabbath is more than resting, it is confirming His presence and truth in our life. Keeping the Sabbath is increasingly difficult in our world, but we know that when we do our Father God will reward us. May God continue to guide and bless you in 2023 sister 🙏

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    1. Thank you so much for this comment Alan! I really appreciate your words that keeping the Sabbath is “confirming His presence and truth in our life.” I think that’s why I find being outside the most restful place because His presence is everywhere I turn. Oh, I have to tell you we got a lovely Christmas card from our friends, the wife is British, and it featured the English Robin. I immediately thought of your post so I gave the card a permanent place in our schoolroom.

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  9. Beth, I love the Rory and Joey song. It’s one of my favorites of theirs. I think of all the things that tire us out the most are fighting the lies of the devil. I find when we are doing something for the Kingdom, the devil can seem relentless in his assault. I’m praying for you my friend. Thanks for sharing this beautiful post. What you do does matter and it does make a difference.

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    1. Thank you Diane! I loved writing a lesson that featured Nova. I feel that somehow there is a lesson tied up in the blind retrieve she did over the holidays. Might be one for Mark to write.

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  11. Excellent and timely post Beth, and I could so relate to “weary of encouraging”…sometimes I wonder “who encourages those of us with the gift of encouragement?” but your post has provided the answer to not growing weary. Blessings to you this New Year Beth and thankyou for your writing.

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  14. Patricia Burkhart

    Thank you, Beth, for the reminder to “slow down and smell the roses,” so to speak. Nova gives us a good example to know your limits and take a break. This is an appropriate reminder and great way to start 2023. Happy New Year to all 🙂

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    1. Thank you Pat! I am thoroughly enjoying the devotional you gave me for Christmas. For the last week I’ve been reading two entries a day to get up to the correct date. This morning when I only had one entry to read I was kind of sad. The pictures, quotes, and scriptures speak so loudly to my soul. Thank you for such a wonderful gift. Oh and the girls gnomes have settled into their new home😊 Thankfully Reeses hasn’t taken a fancy to Ahna’s Sherlock and Juniper gnome.

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  15. Your insightful and descriptive example is a very apt lesson from your brother’s dog, Nova, Beth!
    I remember having a particularly troubling time of weariness and asking a fellow pastor for advice.

    “How does a fast sprinter finish a marathon race?” I asked.

    He gave me a quick picture response by standing from sitting. He said, “This is a picture I got.” He ran in place, stopped bending over and breathing heavily, then began running in place again and sat down, looking to see if I got it.
    I got it! His answer in action was more effective than a thousand words, and I never forgot it! Thank you for reminding me of that moment! We all need Sabbath-rest, some more often than others.
    Happy New Year to you and all your family, near and far!

    Postscript: I love the hymn sung by Joey+Rory!

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    1. Thank you so much for sharing that answer in action, GW! It’s a perfect fit to this lesson!! And, it had something important to teach me. As a cross country runner back in the day, I would have said I was more of an endurance runner, but truth be told after reading your comment I think I’m a sprinter in the other areas of my life and need to do just as your fellow pastor showed.

      Oh and about your post titled “Choice.” Your closing remark inspired me to take the Abolition of Man off the shelf and add it to my pile of books I want to read in 2023. My kids were littles when I spent a year reading through several of Lewis’ books. Now they’re teenagers which means its due time to revisit an old friend.

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  16. Thanks for this excellent post Beth, and actually very timely as we start this new year. Many grow weary partway through the year, but so many of us are starting the year tired that this is a real word in due season. Thanks for your encouragement, and thanks for reminding us to take the sabbath rest.

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    1. Thank you Andy! I know the enemy of our soul is trying to wear down the Lord’s servants so that our light in this very dark world is too dim to touch others. I have to wonder if part of “fighting the good fight” is fighting weariness. I may need to take a closer look at Paul’s writings in this new year to come. Happy New Year!

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  17. A very fitting insight to start the year Beth. I understand being weary on so many fronts. My wife and I try to safe guard each other from caregiver weariness but any area of life has it’s steep ditches hard to get out of should we get too weary to stay on the paths we walk

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    1. Thank you, Gary! I’ll be honest that in my weariness this one almost didn’t get penned and published. The Lord is faithful in His encouragement to keep writing. I’m a K-8 teacher turned homeschooling mom. My eldest started high school this year which means it’s the first year I’m teaching outside my certification which in turn means I’m spending my evening hours brushing up on algebra, physics, and reading copious amounts of literature. As I hit the midpoint of the school year, I definitely feel like I’m staring into that steep ditch trying my hardest not to slip down its banks. I’m hoping to soon figure out what steps I need to take to reclaim the margin of rest I was used to. Blessings to you and your wife in this new year!

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      1. Sounds daunting Beth. Out of box thought… probably….but, You could take the classes online as you teach them and at least get credit towards a masters? My son in law is a college professor, He keeps telling me to get all the classes on photoshop to work with my photography.
        That might put you in the ditch quicker. Anyway, when I think of you I know how to pray.

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  18. Great thought, Beth! Our harried world needs a day of rest–now, more than ever! I remember growing up, Sunday was the only day my very busy mother took a nap. I’ve tried, with varying degrees of success, to keep the sabbath (like she did) ever since.

    I hope the new year involves more devotional writing for you. In my humble opinion, you are very good at it!

    Happy New Year to the Alisans. God Bless!

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    1. Thank you David for the blessing of your encouraging words. I love that your mother passed on to you a concrete picture of Sabbath rest. For me that came from my Dad. Every Sunday after our noonday meal, he would load my brother and I into his brown Mazda truck and off we went to either spend the afternoon with my Nana and Papa or to hike through the river hills. We wouldn’t return until suppertime. It wasn’t until I was much older that I realized the gift of rest he was giving my mother each Sunday. Happy New Year!

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