Wearing Out the SaintsWhen the Noise of the World Distracts Us from God’s Work in Us and Through Us
Don and I have been doing a lot of talking lately about the state of the world and the things we’re seeing happening around us. Between wars, political turmoil, corruption, deception, and the seemingly endless division among people, including fellow Christians, we’ve noticed how wearying it’s become. I suspect we’re not alone. There seems to be a relentless assault upon our minds, our emotions, and even our relationships that leaves us feeling exhausted, frustrated, and sometimes downright discouraged. As we’ve talked about these things, Don said to me, “The Bible says there will be a wearing out of the saints.” And, of course, he was right. In Daniel 7:25, we read:
I realize that this is a prophetic passage describing a particular ruler and a period of persecution against God’s people. I’m not suggesting that today’s political events are necessarily the fulfillment of this prophecy. That’s not my purpose in bringing it up. But that phrase, “shall wear out the saints,” really seems to portray the current state of affairs. Whether or not we’re living in the particular circumstances Daniel described, there is certainly a spiritual battle taking place. And one of the things I’m noticing, both in others and in myself, is how effectively the turmoil around us can wear us down. Satan is very good at what he does. He doesn’t necessarily have to persuade us to abandon our faith to gain an advantage over us. If he can keep us distracted, divided, discouraged, and exhausted, how much of God’s work in us and through us might be hindered? We can still believe the right things, hold firmly to our convictions, and sincerely desire to serve the Lord, yet become so consumed with everything going on around us that we lose sight of what God has actually called us to do. When We Begin Fighting the Wrong BattlesOne of the things that troubles me most is watching Christians become increasingly divided over political figures, world events, and issues about which we often have incomplete or conflicting information. Don’t misunderstand me. There are very real issues of righteousness and wickedness at stake in our world. There are ideas we ought to oppose, truths we must defend, and convictions we should never compromise, but sometimes I wonder whether we’ve begun confusing defending the truth with winning arguments. Paul warned the Galatian believers:
What an appropriate warning! We can become so determined to prove that our opinion is right that we forget how we’re supposed to treat others, particularly when they’re a brother or sister in Christ. I’ve found myself drawn into discussions that I had no intention of entering, only to come away wishing I had stayed silent. Sometimes I have to remind myself that I don’t have to express an opinion about everything, even when I have one; and trust me, I always have one! There is a time to speak, and there is a time to remain silent. Refusing to quarrel is not the same thing as refusing to stand for truth. In 2 Corinthians 2:11, Paul wrote:
Interestingly, the immediate context of that verse concerns forgiveness and restoring relationships. Paul understood that unresolved offences and damaged relationships could provide opportunities for Satan to gain an advantage. I wonder how often we’re giving him that very opportunity. We become angry with one another, suspicious of one another, and sometimes even question the sincerity of another person’s Christianity because they don’t see a political situation exactly as we do. Meanwhile, the real enemy is delighted to see us distracted from the things that matter most. Ephesians 6:12 reminds us:
What if we’re expending so much energy fighting one another that we’re neglecting the spiritual battles God has actually called us to fight? Vexed by Seeing and Hearing
I’ve been convicted recently about how my own choices, particularly where I spend my time, are contributing to my weariness. Speaking of Lot, Peter wrote:
Notice those words: “in seeing and hearing.” Lot was deeply troubled by the wickedness surrounding him. And while his circumstances were certainly different from ours, I think there’s an important principle here. What we continually see and hear affects us. We are living in an age when we can expose ourselves to more information, more controversy, more suffering, and more wickedness in a single day than previous generations might have encountered in months or even years. We carry it around in our pockets! And the technology delivering much of that information is designed to keep us engaged. Algorithms learn what captures our attention and continue presenting material likely to hold it. Often, that means more of what we already believe, more of what makes us angry, or more of what keeps us coming back. Before we know it, we’ve followed one story into another, then another, and another. I know I’m guilty of this myself. I’ve spent time reading articles, following discussions, and trying to sort through conflicting information, only to realize afterward that I’ve accomplished very little of lasting value. And worse, I sometimes come away feeling emotionally drained by circumstances over which I have little or no control. I don’t believe the answer is to become ignorant of world events or indifferent to the suffering of others. We ought to be informed, compassionate, prayerful, and willing to act when we can. But there is a difference between being informed and being consumed. And there is a difference between caring about what happens in the world and carrying the emotional weight of the whole world around with us. We need to recognize that our attention, our emotions, and our time are valuable. They are also limited. Ephesians 5:15–16 tells us:
I wonder how much of my growing physical and spiritual weariness comes from allowing my mind to become occupied with things that God never intended to dominate my thoughts. Am I becoming more discerning, or simply more distressed? Am I growing in wisdom, or merely accumulating more information? And perhaps most importantly, are the things I’m allowing into my mind helping or hindering God’s work in my heart? Where Have We Placed Our Hope?
Another concern Don and I have discussed is how easily we can begin looking to earthly leaders to solve problems that ultimately have spiritual roots. We vote for someone because we hope they will restore justice, expose corruption, protect our freedoms, or bring peace. And when they fail to do what we hoped, we become disappointed, angry, and disillusioned. Then we look to the next person, the next election, or the next political movement, hoping this time things will be different. Please don’t misunderstand me. I believe we should exercise whatever opportunities God has given us to influence our communities and governments for good. We should vote responsibly, pray for those in authority, stand for righteousness, and do what we can to make a positive difference. But we must be careful where we place our confidence. We need to be able to recognize when we’ve been deceived, betrayed, or just wrong. We need to have the humility to acknowledge the truth and continue to stand for what is right and holy. Psalm 146:3–5 says:
What a wonderful reminder! Earthly rulers are temporary. Their power is limited, their understanding is imperfect, and even the best of them cannot overcome the spiritual darkness of this world. Our hope has never been in the next election, the next government, or the next political leader. Our hope is in the Lord! We already know from Scripture that this world is not moving toward a permanent peace established by human wisdom and ingenuity. True and lasting righteousness will come through the reign of Jesus Christ alone. That doesn’t mean we stop doing good while we’re here. Quite the opposite. It means we can continue doing good without allowing the failures of earthly governments to rob us of our peace and confidence in God. Don’t Become So Weary That You Forget What MattersThis brings me back to the thought that has been weighing on my heart. What if we’re becoming so weary from watching everything that is wrong with the world that we have little strength left to concentrate on what God wants to accomplish in us? We can become so angry about the wickedness around us that we begin responding with anger ourselves. So concerned about deception in the world that we neglect to examine our own hearts. So busy defending righteousness in public discussions that we neglect the daily pursuit of holiness in our personal lives. So determined to expose the darkness that we forget to shine the light. And so occupied with what everyone else ought to be doing that we neglect what God has called us to do. It brings to mind the spiritual qualities Peter instructed us to add to our faith that we talked about earlier this year: virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity. Those things still matter. In fact, perhaps they matter more than ever when the world around us seems increasingly hostile to the things of God. We are still commanded to love our neighbours, pray for our enemies, forgive one another, encourage the discouraged, bear one another’s burdens, share the Gospel, and live lives that reflect the character of Christ. And we are still called to pursue holiness in our own hearts. No election result, political controversy, or world crisis has changed those responsibilities. I’ve noticed something else that may be contributing to our spiritual exhaustion. Fear.As I read the comments and conversations surrounding current events, I’m struck by how much fear seems to be driving people’s reactions. Fear of what might happen next. Fear of losing our freedoms. Fear of persecution. Fear of what kind of world our children and grandchildren will inherit. And sometimes those fears are encouraged and amplified by people who seem determined to convince us that disaster is just around the corner. Now, I’m not suggesting that we have nothing to be concerned about. History has certainly shown us that persecution and suffering are very real possibilities for God’s people. Some dear saints are in jeopardy even as I write this. But how often do we allow ourselves to become consumed by things that might happen, things we cannot know for certain, and things over which we have little control? Isn’t that another way the enemy can wear us down? We become so anxious about what tomorrow might bring that we lose the peace and confidence God wants us to have today. Yet the Lord reminds us:
Notice that God doesn’t tell His people that they will never face trouble. He reminds them of Who is with them. We don’t have to know everything the future holds to trust the One who holds the future, and we certainly don’t have to surrender our peace to every frightening prediction or alarming headline. I want to be watchful without being fearful. I want to be discerning without becoming suspicious of everyone. I want to stand firmly for righteousness without allowing anxiety about the future to rob me of my joy in the Lord. Hebrews 12:3 gives us a wonderful instruction:
Consider Him. Isn’t that a beautiful remedy to our weariness? When our minds become overwhelmed by the contradiction, conflict, and wickedness around us, we’re instructed to think about Jesus. Instead of being consumed with everything the world is doing, we need to remember what He has done, what He is doing, and what He has promised to do. We need to keep our eyes on Him. Weary, But Not Defeated
I also want to acknowledge something important. Not all weariness is the result of distraction or misplaced priorities. Sometimes we’re simply tired. Life brings genuine burdens. There are family responsibilities, health challenges, financial pressures, disappointments, grief, and the ordinary demands of living in a fallen world. Even faithful Christians can become physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted. The Lord knows our limitations, and He doesn’t condemn us for needing rest. In Isaiah 40:29–31, we’re reminded:
What an encouragement! Our strength doesn’t come from our ability to keep up with every world event, solve every problem, or win every argument. It comes from the Lord. Perhaps some of us need to become a little less occupied with the world’s endless controversies and a little more occupied with the things of God. Perhaps we need to spend more time in His Word and less time reading everyone else’s opinions. Perhaps we need to replace some of our arguments with prayer, some of our frustration with compassion, and some of our endless scrolling with quiet fellowship with the Lord. Perhaps we simply need to remember that we are not responsible for fixing the whole world. We are responsible for being faithful to the One who holds it in His hands. And while we wait for His return, there is still much good to be done. There are people who need encouragement, souls who need the Gospel, children who need teaching, neighbours who need kindness, and countless opportunities to demonstrate the love of Christ. Let’s not allow the noise of the world to drown out the voice of God’s Word or distract us from His purposes. And above all, let’s not become so weary of the wickedness around us that we grow weary of doing good.
The world may be wearing us down, but by God’s grace, it need not wear us out. Blessings,
Considering some of the things we’ve been discussing, I suspect he would have plenty to say to all of us, myself included! 😊
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