Weary of doing good

Can one become weary of doing good? Yes there are many times, personally I have felt weary and wanted to give up. I suppose this is not an uncommon feature for others too. Paul knew this and that is why he wrote to Galatians - “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9NIV

Three common reasons why people (including me) feel weary of doing good, are considered here. 

One, the drudgery of the mundane and routines. Though we want to feel passionate and engaged actively always, there will be times, when the routines of the day to day work and engagement seems to push us into weariness and wanting a rest from doing good for a period of time. Re-reading the book of Joshua it was interesting to observe that most of his life except for the initial years of war, would have been spend sorting out the allocation of land and settling the petty squabbles around those probably? How did he manage these mundane routines for a few decade. 

The second is lack of evident results or outcome. We keep doing things, engaging with people, there are some evidence of changes, but not really much or great. This produces a feeling of being useless. Or we keep engaging with clinical situations which are preventable, but more and more such situations keep emerging and one wonders is it really worth it? I wonder what would Abraham be thinking as he spend decades moving from place to place not seeing or experiencing the promises he received when he got out. 

 

The third is non appreciation, opposition or at times after having done good, rejection too. We have toiled much, tried to do good, but people do not appreciate or even find fault. Moses had to go through this many a time. Elijah after the great sacrifice, ran away depressed, fearful of the queen wanting to take his life.

 

There is also an element of compassion fatigue, when one keeps giving out, without giving proper attention to personal rest and renewal, and ends up wanting to give up on good works.

 

How does protect and preserve ones soul from  giving up good works? Three possible ways are shared.

 

One, it is important to regularly re-story our lives. We need to reconnect with the bigger picture of life and the overarching narrative of the work and engagement we are part of. Even in the midst of mundane routines, it is essential to discipline ourselves and recharge our perspective. 

In Benares, where Benares silk sarees are made, the father of the family who owns the loom sits at the back with a pattern in his hand. He sends different colors of threads to his sons who are operating the shuttles of the loom. The sons may not fully understand the complete picture, but they keep moving the shuttles as the threads are sent down to them. After a few weeks of such work, a beautifully patterned saree emerges. All of this happens because the father knows which colors to send down to his sons on the loom. We are also part of a similar story.

Two, we should restore joy in the journey itself rather than solely focusing on the outcomes. Oswald Chambers writes, "“We must never put our dreams of success as God's purpose for us; His purpose may be exactly the opposite. His purpose is that I depend on HIM and in HIS power NOW. His end is the process. It is the process, not the end, which is glorifying to God....His purpose is for this minute, not for something in the future. We have nothing to do with the 'afterwards' of obedience. If we have a further end in view, we do not pay sufficient attention to the immediate present; if we realise that obedience is the end, then each moment as it comes is precious.”

 

Three, we must always remember and return to the reality of our identity rooted in and from God. Even if others fail to appreciate or recognize our contributions, there is One who fully accepts us as we are. When Jesus' disciples returned from a successful and exhilarating ministry, Jesus reminded them, "However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."

  

In addition, to avoid compassion fatigue, it is important to create disciplines that allow us to re-story our lives and recharge.