www.lifeway.com/women • LifeWay Christian ResourcesCopyright © 2008 Janet Peavyhouse. All rights reserved

Growing Weary Doing Goodencouragement for exhausted women

Growing Weary Doing Goodencouragement for exhausted women

www.lifeway.com/women • LifeWay Christian ResourcesCopyright © 2008 Janet Peavyhouse. All rights reserved

“Let us not grow weary doing good, for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Galatians 6:9 (NIV)

Should the Christian life be so difficult?

Have we misinterpreted whatis meant by the “Christian life”?

Are we so exhausted because Christ requires so much or because we don’t understand what He truly requires?

Let’s look closer at Galatians 6:9

– Does not say “doing church”»Says “doing good”»Greek word for “doing”

poieo»Means…producing,

bringing forth, bearing a result—the way a tree produces fruit.

Does a tree bear fruit because it tries really hard?

Does a flower bloom because it labors to produce a bud?

Galatians 6:9 (Cont.)

• The word “good”

• In the Greek kalo

• Means “pleasing or beautiful

What is beautiful to God?

Scriptures that use the Greek Word kalo

• Genesis 1:31

• Psalm 25:8

• Psalm 34:8

• Romans 7:18

• 1 Timothy 4:4

• Psalm 73:28

“Let us not allow ourselves to become fatigued in producing what is beautiful.”

How is this possible

“The Christian life is the very real process of God producing His nature in us.”

• John 3:3

• Galatians 2:20

• John 3:30

• Phil 2:13

“It is easy to be so busy trying to produce for God that

our lives produce very little of God.”

Karla Worley

Paul continues in Galatians 6:9 (NIV)“For at the proper time we will reap a

harvest if we do not give up.”

“proper time” Greek idios means: “one’s own”

or “belonging to himself or distinctive”

“A habit or behavior particular to one person.”

• Psalm 75:2

• Genesis 18:14

• Psalm 102:13

• John 7:8

• Romans 5:6

• Galatians 4:4

The proper time is “God’s time”

God’s distinctive ownership and time management.

ONE CONDITION OR WARNING!!!

• “Do not give up” Galatians 6:9

– Give up—Greek word: ekluo» “to loosen out of” to dissolve

Paraphrased….

“Let’s not allow ourselves to become fatigued in producing what is pleasing to God, for in God’s own time, He will produce a harvest, if we do not fall apart or dissolve.”

Galatians 6:9

We must recognize the difference between burdens that are right for us to bear and burdens that are wrong. If we set out to serve God and do His Work but get out of touch with Him, the sense of responsibility we feel will be overwhelming and defeating. But if we will only roll back on God the burdens He has placed on us, He will take away that immense feeling of responsibility, replacing it with an awareness and understanding of Himself and His presence.

Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest

Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)

Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, I will give you rest….

What is your load??????

1. Sin

2. Excessive demands

3. Weariness

4. Oppression

5. Obligations you can’t release

6. Depression

7. Defeatism

Want to lighten your load???

• Come to Him with an

intent to learn.

• Live as a true disciple.

• Take on your shared yoke.

• Devote yourself to a relationship with Him not to religion.

• Find your resting place.

A Look at the Yoke….

• The yoke is designed for two.

• The yoke is an instrument of work.

• The yoke will free you from burdens.

“You must get your attention off the situation and fix it instead on the one who is greater than your circumstances and who is with you in the midst of it. It is more important that I know than that I know what to do.”

Karla Worley

Ask yourself these questions…_________________________

How do you know Jesus?

Do you know Him by a personal name?

Do you have a history with Him?

Are you willing to do less to know Him more?

Many times it is much easier for us to “do for” Him than to “be

with” Him.

Pride leads us to serve God for many wrong reasons…..

WRONG REASON #1

“Because I have gifts”

WRONG REASON #2

“Because I want to be useful”

WRONG REASON #3

“Because there are needs”

“Whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life”

John 4:14 (NIV)

“Drink until you become the spring” Edna Ellison

For more information:

• Growing Weary Doing Good

by Kara Morley

• Frazzled Female & Victoriously Frazzled, Cindi Wood

• Freedom From Busyness, Michael Zigarelli

• Escaping the Stress Trap: 9 Practical Strategies to Overcome Overload by Mary Southerland

• A Place of Quiet Rest by Nancy Leigh DeMoss

• Too Blessed for the Mess: The Frazzled Females Guide to Overcoming Stress by Cindi Wood

• Women and Stress by Jean Lushwww.lifeway.com/women • LifeWay Christian ResourcesCopyright © 2008 Janet Peavyhouse. All rights reserved