Wednesday February, 16, 2011

I find myself on certain days or seasons of life experiencing weariness in the day-to-day routines of life.  Every day I have to get up and get breakfast for Carter, making him a daily lunch and taking him to school.  I try to work in my physical workout before getting a shower and getting ready for work.  I seek to have a quiet time with the Lord before beginning my work day.  After a long day at the office, I come home and the first words I hear from Carter is, “What’s for supper?” I am learning how to make quick and easy meals that are nutritious and include different food groups.  It’s not the most creative, but by that time I am weary of all that has happened throughout the day.  Weariness can set in when we have a lot on our plate, but weariness can also set in due to the routines that keep coming at us day after day after month after year.

I was reminded of this weariness when I read Judges 8 and the story of Gideon.  This was an experience in which Gideon and 300 chosen by God men were pursuing the army of Midian with 120,000 swordsmen.  By the way that is a ratio of 400 Midianites to one Israelites–uneven odds to say the least.  But in this passage Gideon and his army are pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, Kings of Midian.  It had been a long battle and in verse 4 it says the they were “exhausted yet kept up the pursuit” of the kings.  In verse 5 it says that the “troops were worn out and I (Gideon) am still pursuing.”  In verse 12 it says that “Gideon pursued them and captured them routing their entire army.”

Can you imagine the odds of 400 to 1 and yet Gideon led his army on in pursuit of the Midianites while being very weary. His example of being weary and yet pursuing instilled hope and strength in his troops so that they followed and ultimately routed the entire army.  I’m sure that he and his troops wanted to give up the fight, but he had a task and purpose and he didn’t give up, no matter what.

It reminds me of Winston Churchill when he was asked to give the high school graduation commencement address where he had graduated years before.  World War II had been completed and he got up and gave this word for word address.  “Never give in!  Never give in!  Never, never, never give in!”  And with that he sat down.

Do you find that you are experiencing weariness in your life due to circumstances beyond your control and sometimes think of giving up.  It may be a marriage that you are finding weary sledding.  It may be a child that is rebellious and is causing you to be weary.  It may be a job that is tough.  Or a relative you seem not to be making headway with.  If God has called you to pursue and given you a promise of success, I would urge you to pursue.  When God has called you to pursue like He did with Gideon, there was success for Gideon and there will be success for you.  Persist in the journey.