Today is something of a milestone for me. This is the longest I have been without a surgery in the past four and a half years, and it is still less than a year since the last one. In fact, in that time I have had six major surgeries and twelve minor procedures, many of them even more painful than the big ones. When I realized what this poor body has been through, plus the fact that I have also gotten exactly that many years older, I felt better about myself. No wonder it doesn’t take much to wear me out. No wonder my resistance is low and my endurance minimal. You might think otherwise, but it was an uplifting moment.
A couple of summers ago things were really bad. The major surgery had not gone well. Complications had set in within twenty-four hours. I saw the doctor fourteen times in one month and had six more minor surgeries, each one taking more and more out of me. I was about ready to give up. We all know where this is heading, and these surgeries do nothing more than push that time a little further down the road—maybe. When the doctor once again patted my shoulder and said, “We need to do some more,” I nearly said, “No. No more. It’s not worth all this pain. It won’t fix the problem anyway, so why bother?”
George Orwell once said, “The quickest way to end a war is to lose it,” (Polemic, May 1946, “Second Thoughts on James Burnham”).
Do you ever feel that way about life? With all the things happening to him, even Job said, “My soul is weary of my life,” (10:1). We all experience those feelings. Illness, financial misfortune, family problems—all these things can sometimes seem insurmountable. Then, when you are completely exhausted, both physically and emotionally, the temptation is to end the war by simply surrendering.
Don’t do it. This war has already been won. All we have to do is finish it--do the mop up work, so to speak.
The problem too often is that we try to go it alone, refusing to turn our problems over to the Lord. If we insist on that, we have already lost. We are not alone in this fight. We have a Savior who understands everything we are going through and who will share our loads. Look how far you have already come with His help. Yes, you may be tired, and you may well have good reason to be, but be encouraged by your accomplishments through the abundant help you have been given. My grace is sufficient for you, 2 Cor 12:9.
Let Jesus carry those burdens for you. He has already borne the biggest one, the sin that would have damned you for eternity. Surely He can handle the others, things which may seem huge to you now, but which eternal perspective will prove small. Some days you may feel like you are just plugging along, but that is all right too, so long as you don’t give up.
Come unto me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light, Matt 11:28-30.
Dene Ward
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A couple of summers ago things were really bad. The major surgery had not gone well. Complications had set in within twenty-four hours. I saw the doctor fourteen times in one month and had six more minor surgeries, each one taking more and more out of me. I was about ready to give up. We all know where this is heading, and these surgeries do nothing more than push that time a little further down the road—maybe. When the doctor once again patted my shoulder and said, “We need to do some more,” I nearly said, “No. No more. It’s not worth all this pain. It won’t fix the problem anyway, so why bother?”
George Orwell once said, “The quickest way to end a war is to lose it,” (Polemic, May 1946, “Second Thoughts on James Burnham”).
Do you ever feel that way about life? With all the things happening to him, even Job said, “My soul is weary of my life,” (10:1). We all experience those feelings. Illness, financial misfortune, family problems—all these things can sometimes seem insurmountable. Then, when you are completely exhausted, both physically and emotionally, the temptation is to end the war by simply surrendering.
Don’t do it. This war has already been won. All we have to do is finish it--do the mop up work, so to speak.
The problem too often is that we try to go it alone, refusing to turn our problems over to the Lord. If we insist on that, we have already lost. We are not alone in this fight. We have a Savior who understands everything we are going through and who will share our loads. Look how far you have already come with His help. Yes, you may be tired, and you may well have good reason to be, but be encouraged by your accomplishments through the abundant help you have been given. My grace is sufficient for you, 2 Cor 12:9.
Let Jesus carry those burdens for you. He has already borne the biggest one, the sin that would have damned you for eternity. Surely He can handle the others, things which may seem huge to you now, but which eternal perspective will prove small. Some days you may feel like you are just plugging along, but that is all right too, so long as you don’t give up.
Come unto me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light, Matt 11:28-30.
Dene Ward
Like us on facebook to receive tips for using the blog, speaking schedule, quick links, and news about new publications.
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