Weary

Galatians 6:9English Standard Version

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

Isaiah 40:29-31English Standard Version

29 He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.30 Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted;31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles;they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Weary. There is always that point in Christmas preparations and festivities where we feel utterly exhausted. We have shopped, we have decorated, we have shopped, we have baked, we have Santa’d, we have given to charity, we have been to several school and church Christmas programs. All of this on top of our regular responsibilities. We can see the finish line. December 25th, the day it will all be worth it, is almost here! It’s almost here, but many of us feel like we could fall on our faces and be entirely okay if no one woke, poked or moved us until January 1. At some point in the Christmas season we will all be officially bone tired.

One has to wonder if perhaps that is how Mary and Joseph felt. For sure Mary was tired being 40 weeks pregnant. No matter how joyful one may be for the upcoming arrival, by about week 37 you are ready for the baby to make it’s entry. Physically, you are exhausted. But Mary and Joseph were beyond physically tired, they must have been emotionally exhausted as well. Jesus said “My yoke is easy, my burden is light” but for Mary and Joseph it was quite the opposite. It was a heavy yoke to bear the Son of God into this world. Simply understanding the magnitude of what was to happen must have been intimidating, but to carry the weight of the salvation of the world in your womb and to bear society’s scorn as well was, well, it was a miracle.

It was a miracle that they accepted their roles in the story. It was a miracle that they made it 40 weeks alive while claiming to be carrying the Messiah. It was a miracle that they made it by foot and donkey all the way to Bethlehem in order to fulfill prophesy. It was a miracle that God wanted to offer this second chance baby to the world at all.

Mary and Joseph were weary from the physical and emotional journey. God was weary of mankind’s sin. Herod was wary of the prospect of another king. The shepherds were weary from a long, hard day’s work. It’s a miracle that this birth ever happened, but even more miraculous was that God would use the weary to bring about his salvation. God can still use us all, the weak, the weary, the wounded by the world. Everyday he is making miracles out of us. He is cheering us on in service. You’re almost there! We’re almost there! He’s almost here!

Prayer: Lord we are weary, but help us to be willing in our service to you. Amen