One of the strategies of sin is to wear us down.
My husband recently said that to me, and oh did it resonate.
Often, we think of temptation as a flashing sign, a beautiful handwritten invitation, or the suggestion of something alluring. We say “that’s tempting” to junk food and vacations and fun plans when we are too busy.
But sometimes temptation looks more like:
- Wanting to escape from something
- Discontentment driving to depression
- Absorption with “solving” one’s enduring frustrations
- Finding justification for giving up
- Conditions driving us to have bad attitudes
Satan knows he isn’t going to win, but he is a sore loser. If discouragement is the way to get to those who are wise to his glittery lies, then he will wear away at us.
I believe that’s one of the reasons God so often repeats that we are not to grow weary!
- “As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good.” –2 Thessalonians 3:13
- “For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” –Hebrews 12:3
- “Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.” –Galatians 6:9
What keeps us from growing weary?
“In him all things hold together.” –Colossians 1:17
This is the glorious hope for us as we strive to persist in faith. We always have a choice to not grow weary, and it begins with resting in the One who sustains us through everything. (Instead of trying to endure the things that wear away at us on our own.)
May you be encouraged by this lovely song about the truth:
Watch for sin wearing you down; watch by beholding the One who holds all things together.
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I love your point that we always have a choice to not grow weary, and that often when we feel that weariness it’s because we’re slipping into depending on ourselves.
Thanks, Lesley! I love that God never wearies of us depending on Him!
Thank you for reminding me that He holds us together when the going is difficult, enabling us to persist in faith.
I’m thankful He does! Thanks for reading, Joanne!
Really appreciated reading this article of yours this morning. Thanks for sharing this and encouraging us all to not grow weary by doing good in the name of the Lord. Powerful message, and so relevant!
Thank you, Lance! What a blessing to get to share in the encouragement God offers!
It is so true that the enemy is sneaky and discouragement is an area that he will try to use….from soo many angles! Keeping watch is something we must always be reminded of so that we can hold tight to the One that holds us and all our things! Great encouragement in this, Bethany! #soaringwithhim linkup 🙂
Amen, April! Thanks for sharing in this encouragement!
Listening to the song now. Andrew writes such beautiful and meaningful lyrics! So thankful God holds all things together.
He does write powerful lyrics. Thanks for sharing in this thankfulness, Lisa!