Weary but Focused

When I had my first son, I quickly realized that everything I had read about motherhood had not fully prepared me for the reality of it. During the first few months of his life—and my new life as a mother—I woke nearly every two hours throughout the night to breastfeed him. I was exhausted, yet I never missed one of his cries.

Although my body longed for a full night's sleep, my mind kept reminding me, *He needs you.* So I would get up, take him into my arms, comfort him, and nurse him. The joy of seeing his little face was enough to give me the strength to keep going. I was weary, but I was also deeply satisfied to have my baby in my arms.

As I was reading John 4, the well-known account of the Samaritan woman at the well, I saw an even greater example of selfless devotion. Jesus arrived at Jacob's well in the town of Sychar after a journey that likely took three or four days on foot. He was tired, thirsty, and hungry. While He rested at the well, His disciples went into the town to buy food. It was then that the Samaritan woman came to draw water. 

Their conversation crossed the cultural barriers of the day regarding gender, ethnicity, and religion. As Jesus gently revealed both His knowledge of her life and His identity as the Messiah, her eyes were opened to the truth. She immediately left her water jar, hurried back to the town, and told everyone about the Man she had met.

Meanwhile, the disciples returned with food, urging Jesus to eat. Yet He replied, "I have food to eat that you know nothing about" (John 4:32). He explained that doing His Father's will was more satisfying than food itself. Even in His physical exhaustion, hunger, and thirst, Jesus remained focused on the work His Father had given Him to do.

Then He pointed to the people coming toward Him and said, *"Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest"* (John 4:35, KJV). The harvest of souls was ready. There was no time to waste. 

Jesus is the perfect example of placing others before Himself and submitting His physical needs to the will of the Father. His priorities challenge us to examine our own. Are we so focused on God's purposes that we are willing to persevere, even when we are tired, inconvenienced, or weary?

Motherhood taught me that love often requires sacrifice. Jesus showed that the greatest expression of love is joyful obedience to the Father's will. He never allowed weariness to distract Him from His mission, and because of His faithfulness, countless lives—including ours—have been transformed.

May we follow His example and remember the encouragement found in Galatians 6:9:

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

Reasonably Good

Have you ever asked a friend for their opinion about a new restaurant in town or a movie in theaters, only to hear them say, “It’s reasonably good”? Depending on who your friends are, you may think they are being too modest or too critical. Sometimes, you are even surprised when their recommendation perfectly matches what you consider good. 

That is because the word good is often shaped by personal standards, perceptions, and worldviews, all of which can vary greatly from person to person. However, there are certain situations where “reasonably good” should never apply. The normalization of violence, the killing of innocents, or the sexualization of children should never be considered acceptable. These things are not good at all. Yet culture is often used to redefine or justify what is considered appropriate for different groups of people.

In contrast, there is a goodness that is not determined by human opinion and cannot be manipulated by cultural standards: the goodness of God. First, His goodness is inseparable from His righteousness, meaning that everything He does is just (Psalm 25:8). Second, His goodness flows from His holiness; therefore, it is perfect (1 Peter 1:16). Third, His goodness is expressed through His love, leading men and women to repentance and eternal life (John 3:16; Romans 2:4).

When God reveals His will through His Word, He establishes what is perfectly good in a world that is not. To “taste and see that the Lord is good” means trusting and fearing Him, seeking Him continually, turning away from evil, pursuing peace, and, above all, abiding in Christ. Doing what is truly good — what is just, perfect, and loving — is only possible when we are connected to the Source. This is not goodness according to cultural standards; it is goodness according to the standard of Christ.

So the next time you ask a friend for their opinion, remember that they are simply doing their best to describe their experience — and that is okay. But if you want to discover what is truly good, go to the Source of goodness Himself. He will reveal it to you without bias.

                        Psalm 34:8  "O taste and see that the Lord is good..."