Bear Crawls and Shipwrecks

Suggested Reading: Galatians 6:1-10

In the film Facing the Giants, Coach Grant Taylor tries to turn a losing football team at a private Christian school into a winning football team by teaching them the principle of giving God glory in every aspect of their lives. One of the leaders on his team is a young defensive player named Brock. Brock's biggest failing is that he always wants to quit when he gets tired. In order to teach Brock a little bit about perception, he has Brock do bear crawls, blindfolded,  with a teammate on his back. Coach Taylor tells Brock that he wants him to go 20 yards, but since Brock cannot see how far he has gone, Taylor pushes him the entire length of the football field. This lesson about enduring when you are tired serves Brock well when, in the climactic game, a very tired Brock manages to hold the defense together for one last stop, giving his team a chance to win.

At times, trying to live a good life can make you feel like Brock. You've given everything you have to give, you've worn yourself out serving God and helping people, and you just don't think you can go any farther. You're tired. You want to quit, to throw in the towel, declare that you are done trying to do the right thing all the time, trying to serve, trying to give. You're just done. Maybe, after a break, you can start up again. Maybe when you've had a chance to recover your strength you can go back for more. You just need a chance to stop, to not worry about doing the right thing or being the right person or serving.

Now, I'm not talking about general exhaustion here. I'm not talking about the kind of exhaustion where you haven't gotten enough sleep and you've worked extra hours and you are physically drained. I'm talking about spiritual exhaustion, the kind where you have given everything of yourself that you have to give and there is nothing left. Your emotions are spent, you have no more compassion left in the reservoir, no more patience left for people who mistreat you and take advantage of you, no more cheeks you can turn, no more self-control you can exert. You're ready to quit doing good. You can't do it anymore. You don't have the energy and it's not worth it anyway. That kind of spiritual exhaustion.

If you have ever been in that spot, like I have been, Paul has something to say. "We must not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don't give up" (Galatians 6:9, HCSB).  "Sure, Paul, that's easier said than done," I can hear someone responding right now. "Do you know how long I've been doing this? Do you know how much I've given?" But if you know what Paul went through for the cause of Christ, then you know Paul is giving us more than empty platitudes. Paul describes his own experiences like this:  

Five times I received 39 lashes from Jews. Three times I was beaten with rods by the Romans. Once I was stoned by my enemies. Three times I was shipwrecked. I have spent a night and a day in the open sea. On frequent journeys, I faced dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my own people, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the open country, dangers on the sea, and dangers among false brothers; labor and hardship, many sleepless nights, hunger and thirst, often without food, cold, and lacking clothing (2 Corinthians 11:25-27, HCSB).

Paul isn't telling us to pretend we don't get frustrated or weary. He isn't telling us that we have to put on a brave face and lie about how we feel. He is simply saying, "Don't give up." Put one foot in front of the other. Keep pushing forward. Keep giving and working, even when it doesn't look like it's paying off because "we will reap at the proper time, if we don't give up." We never know when it will happen. We never know what it will look like. But if we hang in there and keep living this life, it will be worth it. Don't give up. 

Helping Superman Hold His Arms Up

Suggested Reading: Exodus 17:8-16

As Clark Kent was becoming Superman in the television series Smallville, before the public knew his face, he was known as the Blur, a faceless good Samaritan who put bad guys in jail and saved people from disasters. The Blur had become a symbol of hope for the people of Metropolis. But the politicians had begun passing laws against helping people without wearing a uniform and being on the government's payroll. Discouraged, and doubting the possible success of efforts to repeal these laws, Clark had begun to doubt himself as well. So a couple friends who knew his secret identity created a website where people could post video messages for the Blur. When the videos where shared with Clark, he was overwhelmed with encouragement and found the motivation to keep helping people.

A remarkably similar scene was played out in the book of Exodus as Moses was leading the Israelites out of Egypt and into the Promised Land. Without provocation the Amalekites attacked Israel. Moses, who was now more than 80 years old, assigned Joshua to rally the army while he upheld them in battle. Whenever Moses held up his hands, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hands, Amalek prevailed. But Moses' hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun (Exodus 17:11-12, ESV). Whether Moses' raised hands provided some supernatural assistance or simply encouraged the people, we don't know. We just know it helped. But an 80 year old man, or even a 20 year old man, can only hold his hands up for so long before they give out. In order to keep helping his people, Moses himself needed help.

The people who help us often need help themselves. They need encouragement and rest as much as any of us. These people may seem superhuman at times, but they are just as human as the rest of us and many hover near the edge of exhaustion and discouragement. Sometimes, in order to keep helping us, they need help themselves. They need someone to come along and find them something to sit on so they can rest. They need someone to hold them up for a time, giving them encouragement and strengthening them with prayer. They need help.

Or maybe you are the person always helping and ministering to others. Maybe you hover near the edge of exhaustion and discouragement. Maybe you have gone over that edge. Don't be afraid to let people know you need help. Without it, your hands may fail and everyone will be let down. 

Everyone needs help from time to time. Let's be ready and willing both to give help and to receive it.

A Boxing Match With Five Thousand Hungry Men

Suggested Reading: Matthew 14:13-21

I have always enjoyed the Rocky movies. They don't have the greatest acting or even the greatest plots but they have a central character who is compelling. The characteristic that makes Rocky Rocky is the fact that he never quits. Rocky was not all that skilled as a fighter, though he trained his rear end off. But Rocky was never willing to lay down. Even when beaten to a bloody pulp, Rocky would get up and go another round until he was finally able to find an opening in his increasingly tired opponent. That unwillingness to let being tired, beaten up, or bloody keep him down is what turned Rocky into a champion.

Believe it or not, Rocky had a lot in common with Jesus. In Matthew 14, Jesus had had a grueling schedule and then got the news that John the Baptist had been murdered by Herod. Exhausted, physically and emotionally, he left in a boat to a remote area to be alone. But the crowds heard where he was headed and followed on foot from many towns. Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. (Matthew 14:13-14, NLT).  In spite of the fact that he was tired and that he wanted time alone to deal with the emotional toll of John the Baptist's death, Jesus didn't turn away a chance for ministry when it presented itself. And when he took the time to minister, even in his weakened state, God chose to bring about one of Jesus' great miracles. Jesus' compassion led to a time of teaching and then to Jesus' command that the disciples feed all of these people. Jesus, low on energy, low on resources, and needing rest, fed five thousand men with five loaves of bread and two fish, even though no one would have faulted Jesus for taking some time off to recover.

Sometimes life gets exhausting. Life can be hard and overwhelming. You may be tired and emotionally drained. But whatever your condition, don't turn away from the opportunities for ministry that God brings directly into your path. Your time of greatest weakness may be the time God chooses to use you in the greatest ways.