Do Not Be Weary

Brothers and sisters, do not be weary in doing what is right.
~ 2 Thessalonians 3:13

As I’m writing this post, it is six more days until November 8th. I don’t know what has happened yet, but when reading the text for this Sunday, all I could think about was my own weariness with this election season.

I’m feeling pretty weary and I have managed to avoid Facebook arguments with friends and family, I have avoided watching a lot of the news, I have avoided much of this election season, and I am still feeling weary. For those who canvas or phone bank, who share their opinions on social media, who watch the news and try to find truth in this season – I can’t imagine how you must be feeling, I suppose as you read this and it’s over, maybe you are feeling relieved.

But even once this election is over, I wonder if I won’t still have some weariness leftover. Because regardless of whose name you fill in on your ballot, this season has been exhausting. It’s tiring working to find common ground when we feel as though we’re on opposite sides. It’s frustrating when we try to share love, compassion, and understanding, and are met with defensiveness, hurt, and sometimes even insults.

What makes me weary is not the election itself, it’s not the candidates or the debates, it’s the way we seem to treat each other.

It’s like we forgot that we are brothers and sisters in this world.

And it makes me feel weary to see the anger, the frustrations, the fear, the divisions we create between each other.

But in doing what is right – Paul tells us not to be weary. For Paul in his letter to the church in Thessalonica, he is warning them against idleness, against laziness or mooching, but for me as I read Paul’s letter, all I can hear are those words: “Brothers and sisters, do not be weary in doing what is right”, and today, what seems to be right, is to love one another.

Jesus tells us to love God and to love our neighbor as ourselves, and sometimes that’s a commandment that’s not easy to follow. But it’s right.

And sometimes it can be exhausting, it can be tiring, it can be frustrating, and we might feel weary in sharing love and compassion when that isn’t always the response we receive.

But brothers and sisters, do not be weary. Love one another. It’s okay to disagree, but even in our exhaustion, let’s enthusiastically share God’s love with those we meet, with our family and friends on social media, in person, and around the dinner table.

What is making you feel weary? What is the right thing you are feeling too weary to work towards right now?  Is there someone you care about that you might need to forgive? How might you enthusiastically share love and joy with someone else today? 

Pastor Megan Filer
Pastor Megan Filer