The Christian life is a marathon, not a sprint. There are many times in our walk with the Lord that we get weary and tired in the journey. The Apostle Paul experienced as much as he shares his testimony to the church in Corinth in 2 Corinthian 11:21-28 (ESV)
But in whatever anyone dares to boast—I am talking foolishly—I also dare:
22 Are they Hebrews? So am I.
Are they Israelites? So am I.
Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I.
23 Are they servants of Christ?
I’m talking like a madman—I’m a better one:
with far more labors,
many more imprisonments,
far worse beatings, near death many times.
24 Five times I received 39 lashes from Jews.
25 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.
26 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;
27 labor and hardship,
many sleepless nights, hunger and thirst,
often without food, cold, and lacking clothing.28 Not to mention other things, there is the daily pressure on me: my care for all the churches.
Apostle Paul’s experience is much different than what Apostles go through today. I’m sure that there were many times that Paul was extremely tired and weary and wondered what the Lord was doing. He said as much, again in 2 Corinthians 4:8-10 (ESV)
We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our bodies.
Paul touches on why in His final statement, “So that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our bodies”. This is out of design with the Lord. We must deal with our flesh and learn to live from the place of our spirit. The reason is because God is preparing for the “sons of God” to be revealed. If we are going to manifest the Lord Jesus, we are going to have to be able to live out of our spirit like Jesus did. This is the reason for the discipline that we go through. Death to our flesh and life to our spirits.
Even Jesus had to suffer according to Hebrews 5:8
Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.
If Jesus, the sinless Son of God had to go through such, why should we expect any less. It’s because of God’s love for us and the purpose for which we’ve been created, to manifest Jesus in the end of the age. The writer of Hebrews explained it this way in Hebrews 12:5-10 (ESV)
5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?
“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
nor be weary when reproved by him.
6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and chastises every son whom he receives.”7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.
So on days when we struggle to understand what God is doing, we must be reminded the reason that we’re running this race. We must show Jesus in our lives and testimony as witnesses at the end of the age.
One of my favorite verses is found in 2 Timothy 2:13
if we are faithless, he remains faithful
That is huge! The reason is that He cannot deny Himself. He must fulfill His word. So rest in God’s purpose for your life. I leave you Philippians 1:6
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Have faith, God is doing a wonderful thing in and through you.