...weary....in, well.......doing!.....

"weary in well doing" What does that even mean? Okay, so I KNOW when I'm weary. Got that part. I understand when my body rebels, my mind shuts down and nothing motivates me. I'm weary, tired, exhausted possibly. Weary. Yes.

I believe the concept of "doing" is pretty self-explanatory. It's an action, a movement, an accomplishing of some task or responsibility. Do. Doing. Done. Got it. Did it.

So that leaves us "well." Well, well, well.....no, not that. It's not referring to the state of my health. It's not a deep hole for gathering water. Nope. This "well" is a bit more subjective. Unfortunately evaluating this "well" is personal, it's individual. It is affected by my moods, attitudes or opinions. It's a very mental thing where the evaluation of how well can be as different as the person evaluating. As a Christian, I want to be able to say I'm "weary in well doing" for that indicates I am doing something well, or the action of doing it is well done (not to be confused with a rib-eye). If it truly is "well done", then it is something God has chosen for me to do, something for which He has given me strength, wisdom or ability. Or so I hope. I hope, but....not all "good" things, or activities, or even ministries are mine to do.

I have a Swiffer mop. Not the wet-jet that squirts liquid out to clean with. This is the kind that you tuck the pad around the surface at the end of the pole and slide it across the floor to get the dirt up. Now. If I used a new pad on the kitchen floor (where it worked well) and then went to the entryway with the same pad (where it began to dry out a little), then went on to the bathroom (where it was just putting more dirt down than it was picking up), then headed to the other bathroom.....get the idea? Is that using it well? Or say I pulled a rubber band out of my desk drawer to put around a bunch of pencils. Super job! So then I used it around some index cards. Excellent. So I bound some books with it. Umm.....then I tried to use it as a dog leash....you get the picture. The rubber band will be fine until I try to stretch it so far that it finally breaks. Is that using it well?

Sometimes our work is God's business. Tasks to which He has called us and strengthened us. Tasks that are difficult and finally we begin to be weary in this work He has given us. It's hard to serve the Lord. He knows that. That's why He tells us not to become weary.

But then sometimes we are just in "busyness" for God. Doing good things. Helping people. Following opportunities that present themselves. But, perhaps stretching ourselves too thin, using ourselves up beyond what we can do well.

How do we know? How can we tell where we are to serve? When are we supposed to let someone else step in and serve instead of us? Relationship, baby! The closer we are to Him, the clearer the whisperings (leadings) of the Holy Spirit are to our hearts. We just know. And we must follow. Is it time to step back? Spend some time with Him as He helps me re-evaluate my activities in life? Where would He have me be involved?

Am I "weary in well doing" or just weary because I'm trying to do everything there is to do? He knows. He will show me. I will "do well" to listen.......