Weary in Well Doing
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
Over the years that we have served in Pastoral Care, I have noticed a trend. In late June, July and August, there is a collective leadership sigh. For a few weeks we have a reprieve, a time to re-collect, to rejuvenate, to relax. The challenges of the previous year are placed in the parking lot for the dog days of summer, to remain there until September. But September comes, and the mantle is picked up once more; the schedule resumes, new programs begin, the sheep are back in the fold, and we quickly start to feel fatigued.
It is reassuring to know that even our Lord Jesus grew ‘weary in well doing from time to time.’ It was a natural part of His humanity. The clamouring crowds pressed Him on every side, and He had to escape to the mountains to re-fuel. Should we expect any less of ourselves?
While Paul often admonishes the churches for behaviour that is unbecoming and causes reproach to the Gospel, that is not the case in Galatians 6:9. Here he cautions them that weariness can be precipitated by ‘well doing.’
Modern Psychology calls this ‘compassion fatigue.’ Paul calls it ‘weariness in doing good.”
What causes this kind of weariness that can distract, discourage, and even derail our leadership efforts? Here are five of the leading causes:
Fear of Failure – The fear that we may not succeed in our ministry attempts can wear us down. Ironically, the probability of actually failing is directly proportional to our level of weariness. God does not call us to failure. Fatigue and failure are not synonymous. But weary leaders fail more often.
Carrying the Burdens of Others Past the Cross – Scripture instructs us to fulfill the law of Christ by bearing one another’s burdens – but how and how far? The law of Christ is the law of love. Paul writes in Romans 13:8 that our only debt to others is to love them. Recently, as I was counselling a weary, overwhelmed leader, the Lord showed me the problem this precious leader was facing. He was carrying the burdens of people past the Cross into territory meant only for Jesus. The leader’s role is to bring people to Jesus. He is the burden bearer. When we continue to carry burdens of others past Calvary, we soon stumble under an unwieldy load, a load we were never intended to bear.
Failure to Delegate – Moses was attempting to ‘do it all’ alone as he led the Israelites out of Egypt. The volume of the work was overwhelming, and he was clearly beginning to show the strain. His very wise father-in-law offered him a lesson in delegation. He listened to the counsel, and it saved his leadership.
Leaders who trust no one but themselves to do it right will become so exhausted that they inevitably do it wrong. Delegating is essential in maintaining stamina in leadership. Micromanagement may seem like the most foolproof route in leadership, but it adds stress to an already heavy workload. Wise leaders trust in the calling and capacity of others to help ease the weariness from their own shoulders. A pastor friend, wounded by a division in his congregation, decided the answer was to take personal control of every aspect of the ministry. It was not a good choice. It robbed him of his peace, his rest, and ultimately of his leadership role.
Ownership Versus Stewardship – Wanting to be a conscientious pastor, I sometimes suffered from role confusion. I had to frequently remind myself who owned the Vineyard and who was called to be the Caretaker. When I reversed those roles, I quickly wearied under a self-imposed sense of misplaced responsibility. Jesus made it clear that building His Church was His responsibility alone. When leaders understand that truth, the pressure to succeed decreases, and the joy of serving people in Christ’s name increases.
The Neglected Sabbath – Jesus said that the ‘sabbath’ was made for man. God established this pattern at creation when He rested on the Seventh Day. The constitution of humankind includes a need for a weekly Sabbath. If one goes without sleep for several nights, the physical faculties begin to shut down. The same principle can be extrapolated over a long period. If one goes without practicing a weekly sabbath rest, the cumulative effects eventually leave the leader depleted.
Here are some remedies:
Remind yourself daily that ministry is ultimately the Lord’s responsibility. I love a line I heard years ago: “We are only the donkeys who bring the triumphant Jesus to the people.”
Remind yourself that while you are important, you are not indispensable to God’s work.
Remind yourself that if Jesus, who only had three years to accomplish a lifetime of ministry, needed rest, how much more do you need systematic rest for the long haul.
Remind yourself that the kingdom of God is built one soul at a time, one service at a time, one step at a time. The ministry is not a sprint; it is a marathon; therefore, we must prepare and execute accordingly. Jesus has not called us to quick, transient flashes of glory, but to God's steady, upward call. He will build His Church in His time, in His way. The pressure leaders feel to expedite the process is misplaced and will wear them out and actually impede progress. A weary leader is not usually a wise leader.
If we take practical heed to Paul’s instruction in Galatians 6:9, we can also cash in on the promise attached as an addendum: “In due season, we will reap, if we do not faint.”
So, when the October oxygen is running low, step back a pace, take a deep breath or two, recalibrate your compass and carry on. Let Jesus do what only He can do. Listen for the ‘still small voice’ of divine guidance, often heard in quiet moments. Remember the beloved Apostle John (1 John 5:3): ‘the commandments of the Lord are not burdensome.’ His plan for His leaders is not to ‘wear them out’ but to ‘give them rest.’
That’s His offer. The choice whether to accept or not is ours.
Al is an experienced pastor and counselor who works out of our ABNWT District Resource Centre in Edmonton as the Pastoral Care Coordinator. A pastor to the pastors, Al is a friend, mentor, and confidante to all.