A Time to Cry Out (Part 2): Weariness and God’s Strength

This is the second post in a 2-part series. Read part 1: The Fight Against Apathy and Weariness

“Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’ Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” –Paul (2 Corinthians 12:8-10)

“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” –Paul (Philippians 4:13)

Did you know that it’s okay to be weary?

Really.

Although it hurts our pride (especially for us self-sufficient people!), we really don’t need to have it all together or have all the answers. We simply don’t have resources or power like that in our own strength and wisdom, but God certainly does.

When we’re confronted with the bigness of the darkness, trials, suffering, and pain in this world, it’s only natural to get overwhelmed. We really are not quite as “big” as we like to think, and to admit the reality of our proportion, our size in comparison to all that is wrong in this world, in our communities, in ourselves that discourages and overwhelms can be downright frightening. It’s a scary thing to grapple with how fragile and how “not in control” we really are – just look at the aftermath of one big hurricane, and you have plenty of proof of that.

So how do we weary people respond to all this?

Now apathy and cynicism? That says we can’t do anything and gives up with an “oh well” or a snarky remark in attempt to be clever.

Carefree obliviousness? That’s just a foolish construct waiting to collapse at the first onset of suffering or trial that eventually comes to everyone.

In fearful action (or inaction)? No, no. Now’s not the time to panic.

And exhaustion on it’s own? Well, that says we’re tired of trying and we just need a break already. So how about another of my favorite _____________ (fill-in-the-blank) to dull the throb of a heart wearied by life’s ups and downs.

But weariness with humility says a ready: Help! We need You, the Almighty God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob Who is more than able! Come save us!

WHAT’S SO GOOD ABOUT WEARINESS

“Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.” –Isaiah 40:31

“Come to Me, all who are are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” –Jesus (Matthew 11:28)

It’s SO disheartening the state of our world, but isn’t our weariness the very uncomfortable place where we begin to see our need for Jesus our Savior?

When the pain is so great that we begin seek help from outside of ourselves?

When we start to empathize with the deep suffering of others?

When we cry out, not only for ourselves, not only for our loved ones, but also for the world?

Jesus promised that in this world we would have trouble, and boy, He wasn’t kidding! We desperately need help, and all of the craziness we see in the world are the birth pangs Paul writes about in the Scriptures. But don’t forget that Jesus also said that in Him we have peace and to “take courage; for I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

When we’re confronted with our need, we can ignore it, try to fix it by ourselves, or realize that we need God. Our weariness is an incredible opportunity to run to God and experience His beautiful strength. And like we were encouraged this past Sunday, this is also our moment to band together as the people of God and encourage one another in crying out to God and pursuing His righteousness (Hebrews 10:23-25; Matthew 6:24-33).

CRYING OUT TO JESUS

“As Jesus was approaching Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road begging. Now hearing a crowd going by, he began to inquire what this was. They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. And he called out saying, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!'” –Luke 18:35-38

“‘O Lord, the God of our fathers, are You not God in the heavens? And are You not ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand so that no one can stand against you… For we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You.'” –King Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 20:6, 12b-d)

If I had to say one thing to the Church at this moment, it’d be: Now is the time to rally, get on our faces before God, and in faith cry a humble and simple, “Help us, Lord!” And this cry for help begins with you. In each person’s heart and then corporately as a Body of believers, we need to ask God to intervene as only He can do. Like blind Bartimaeus in the Gospels, let’s not hesitate to cry out because, we definitely need our Savior’s help:

Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on us!

Yes, the Lord Jesus Christ, our God, He can, has, is, and will. He’s the very same God Who is God Almighty, the God of more than enough, the One Whose hand is not too short to save. He’s the God Who doesn’t turn away from suffering, but He goes through it with us, carrying us all the way if we turn to Him and let Him. He, only He is the One Who is our Hope during suffering and through it to the other side.