Watch Out For Weariness
1 Peter 5:6-8 (KJV)
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Peter was writing to the church that had been scattered throughout Asia Minor during this time period. They had been displaced and spread abroad because of the persecution that was levied against Christians in that day. Peter’s admonition at the end of his first letter was to remain sober and vigilant. Even in the weariness of life, Peter warned that they were to remain watchful.
We all face weariness at one point or another. If there is one word to describe weariness, the word “inevitable” comes to mind. There is no escaping from it. You cannot hide from it. Weariness is no respecter of persons; it gets a hold of every one of us. It is most commonly in our weariness that the adversary, the devil, makes his move. He is a very patient creature. He is not opposed to waiting until you have reached the lowest points of your life before striking.
In athletics, people dedicate their entire lives to conditioning their bodies so that in the pressure of an intense game, match, or competition their bodies can withstand the weariness. Even so, a tired athlete faces the risk of injury and fatigue. That’s precisely why the best athletes are typically ones who have conditioned their bodies far and above the fatigue of a regular game.
So it is with our spiritual life that we must condition ourselves to withstand the weariness of the day to day life. Conditioning ourselves in the spiritual realm is much like it is in the physical. It takes discipline, commitment and the willingness to submit to a greater good (God). This is so important because it is when we are tired, weary, and struggling that our decision making thought process is so heavily impacted.
For this reason, Peter reminds the church, be sober, be vigilant; your adversary is watching our for your weariness. So it is that we should also be watchful. If you are feeling weary, there are two things that need to happen. The first, is to cast your care upon Jesus, for he cares for you. The second, is to find a brother or sister in Christ who can pray with you and encourage you through that season of weariness. Be encouraged today, friends. The scriptures say that weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning.
Written by Kevin Quiñones for The Pentecostals of Gainesville
