Devotion: Galatians 6:9

Galatians 6:9  Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

I love service. I love helping others and sharing with them. I get so much reward and joy from being able to do good for someone else. But can it be wearisome? Yes. Can it cause stress and anxiety at times? Definitely. But is it worth it? Absolutely!

Of course, service is not about doing for the reward, but doing for God. We will reap a harvest, yes. I reap joy in abundance from the work I do.But that is just the natural outcome, not the purpose of my serving.

But service, aside, we still need to do good to others, for others, around others, with others. And doing good can definitely make one feel wearisome, if not anxious.The spirit is willing, but the flesh can often get in the way (Mark 14:38). And all the more so when we feel we are being taken advantage of or when doing good seems to be getting you nowhere.

How do you ensure you don’t grow weary in doing good? There are a few things you can consider.

• Don’t overcommit. This is a surefire way of burning yourself out and raising anxiety levels. (Psalms 46:10)
• Take time for yourself. It is okay to take a breather and rest. Jesus would withdraw often to pray and be alone. And He took naps. He rested. (Mark 6:31)
• Focus. Know what your purpose is for what you are doing and focus on that. If you are simply trying to be a kinder, nicer person, focus wholeheartedly on doing that. If it is service, focus on doing the best you can there.
• Pray. Seek God when things get overwhelming and you feel weariness creeping in. Trust Him to give you peace.

There are probably other things you could do to help with weariness in doing good, but we’ll end today’s devotion there. Which of these things can help you the most?

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