Weary But Pursuing :

"And Gideon came to Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three 
hundred men that were with him, weary yet pursuing them."   (Judges 8:4)

 

   Gideon had recently returned from destroying the alters of Baal. He 
and his men needed rest, and probably looked forward to spending a little 
time at home with their families before marching off to defeat another land. 

   They needed calm and good food. Beef jerky becomes boring day after day.     
However, there wasn't even enough time for them to polish their armor. 
Gideon's next assignment was to subdue the Medianites' and do it 
with only three hundred men. 

   Discouragement is often the result of being tired and exhausted. But 
these soldiers were the "special forces" of the day. Men of Valor they 
were called. They were used to harsh living conditions, being hungry and 
having to endure adverse weather conditions. They were soldiers and that's what 
soldiers do.

    Are we like them or have we withdrawn from action? How do we 
respond when things don't go our way or when we experience adversity? There are 
many factors that may contribute to our weariness, but did God tell you to 
take a break from the action? Seasons of rest are necessary in our walk with 
God but too many of us may be AWOL. Two questions must be asked, "What caused 
us to go away" and "why are we still gone?"

   Someone has said, "If we aren't closer to the Lord today than 
we were yesterday, who moved?" There could be valid reasons, but let those 
same reasons be the catalyst that draws you closer to the Savior. He wants 
to be a vital part of the very things that would pull you away. Use every 
irritation in your life as an avenue to allow God to show you how good and caring He is. 

   God knows how to fix things. Take your brokenness to Him and watch Him 
work. He will do glorious things in you!