Children, don’t grow weary

My sister in Christ shared her weariness. She was just “over it all.” The fatigue of earthly life felt weighty and weary to her, mostly because it seemed unending. Even in her tiredness, she wasn’t sleeping well; insomnia compounded her emotional and physical weariness. Sister, don’t grow weary!

Jesus came with compassion to people aching with weary, hoping for their Messiah to free them from oppression with victory. But Jesus revealed that His kingdom is not of this world. Military victory and immediate relief of earthly discomfort and fatigue was not God’s plan for our Savior. His purposes were vastly different. In Jesus’ earthly life, His glorious and wondrous work on the cross beckoned Him as He began the work of His kingdom. 

Weary in the wait for Jesus to return

Beloved, His kingdom work continues now as He brings our redeemed sisters and brothers into “citizenship in heaven” (Ph. 3:20a ESV). 

How can we keep from growing weary as we wait for the consummation of His kingdom, His return, the end, His complete restoration of all things? One day, we will all “see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven” (Mt. 26:64 ESV)! 

We wait. We often grow weary. 

Children, don’t grow weary

The spiritual exhorts us:

Children, don’t grow weary,
children, don’t grow weary,
children, don’t grow weary,
for the time is drawing nigh.

Will you sing along with me? Let’s anticipate His kingdom completion as it draws near, with Jesus’ instructions.

Keep your lamps trimmed and burning,
keep your lamps trimmed and burning,
keep your lamps trimmed and burning,
for the time is drawing nigh.

Be on guard through the Word of God

Let’s look for Jesus, with intention. Let’s meditate on His Word, savoring and studying the Bible so we can recognize things that are of Christ versus things of this world. He tells me and you to “be on your guard” (Mk. 13:9 ESV), alert and awake (Mk. 13:23, 33, 37). We may be weary physically and emotionally, but we desperately need the fuel of God’s Word to keep the light of our lamps strong in this world’s darkness. 

Darker midnight lies before us,
darker midnight lies before us,
darker midnight lies before us,
for the time is drawing nigh.

Be filled with the Spirit (Eph. 5:18b ESV)

I used to teach the children’s song with all the moves, “Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning, burning, burning. Give me oil in my lamp, I pray.” Sorry for the ear worm! 

Without oil, the wick won’t burn, no matter how perfectly it’s trimmed. In Scripture, oil is also used for anointing, representative of the Holy Spirit. Hallelujah!

Jesus Christ, Whom God anointed with the Holy Spirit and with power (Acts 10:38) has 

“saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit” (Tit. 3:5 ESV). 

How we need His continual filling of the Holy Spirit to illuminate His Word to us. 

Make the most of our time by singing and giving thanks (Eph. 5:19-20)

The Lord tells us to make “the best use of the time, because the days are evil” (Eph. 5:16 ESV). 

How? Here are a few of our Father’s loving instructions:

“Understand what the will of the Lord is” through His Word, illuminated by the Holy Spirit (Eph. 5:17-18 ESV). 

“Address…one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart” (Eph. 5:19 ESV)

“Give…thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph. 5:20 ESV).

Lord, in our weariness, bring us to Your Word with understanding, through Your indwelling Holy Spirit as believers in Christ. Please fill our hearts with Your hope as we wait for the return of our precious Savior Jesus Christ. You are the source of our strength, our joy, our song. Lord, bring us into singing praise to You as we pray and watch for Your powerful fulfillment of Your kingdom. We join all generations of brothers and sisters in Christ as we sing this day and every day. In the matchless name of the reigning King, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Lo, the morning soon is breaking,
lo, the morning soon is breaking,
lo, the morning soon is breaking,
for the time is drawing nigh.

Christian, journey soon be over,
Christian, journey soon be over,
Christian, journey soon be over,
for the time is drawing nigh.

Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning (attr. to Blind Willie Johnson, 1928)

Would you like a Christ-exalting playlist?

Would you like a Christ-exalting, Scripturally-saturated playlist to help you sing praise to the Lord INTO your weariness, waiting, and watching?

Based on my work as a church music director, music educator, and music therapist, I professionally curate weekly YouTube playlists to help us all sing praise aloud to the Lord. Each playlist contains 10-13 psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs of varied genres, with lyrics so we can respond to Him by singing in personal worship.

If it would bless you to receive emailed playlists that thematically match each week’s writing, sign up here and feel free to share with a friend who is weary right now! It is my aim and joy to help us all glorify God and enjoy Him forever, by obeying His instruction to sing praise to Him.

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Praying for you, beloved in Christ! May He bring you great hope and joy in Christ as you read His Word and sing praise to Him this week!