Strong Back, Soft Heart

Read Galatians 6:1-10

I am a sucker for a good story that involves a hero or heroine. I love watching these fictional to true to life characters face challenges, overcome obstacles, fear, and enormous amounts of self-doubt. Something about these "super hero" stories resonates with me.  

As I was pondering this passage from Galatians, my mind reflected back to one of my favorite Netflix episodes I watched recently. The heroine of the story was on the brink of "breaking the curse" but she hesitated.

She had been a loner her whole life, abandon as a child, and had acquired a STRONG BACKBONE.  But now that the time had come for her to use that strength for the good of others, she held back!  She son told her, "You have to do this, everyone is depending on you!"  She responded, "I don't want them to depend on me.  I am afraid I will let them down." 

The heroine in this story, strong as she was, held back from softening her heart to let herself help carry the burden of those around her.  She had allowed life to hardened her heart against letting people TOO CLOSE.  But everything she had been through had led up to this point, and this was her calling!  She now needed to learn to use her strength, not to protect herself, but to allow her to soften her heart and LOVE. 

It is easy for me also to become "weary of doing good."  After all, people may hurt me, disappoint me, or worse yet, I might fail and disappoint them!

This promise breathes new life and purpose into my life, "do not grow weary of doing good, for in due season, we will reap, if we do not give up."  

Lord, help me to see that when I become weary, You are creating endurance and strength in me.  Help me use this strength to soften my heart and love as You have loved me!