First what does the word weary mean? It means “very tired or fatigued. Fatigued, tired, weary, jaded, exhausted washed out.”
As I was reading scripture and praying today I read in, Isaiah 50:4 “The Lord God has given Me the tongue of the learned, That I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary,…” Since this passage of Scripture is speaking about Jesus it is safe to say. What would Jesus say to the weary?
Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Other versions say labored and heavy laden. Verse 29 “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for you souls. 30)For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
When we think of people being weary, we realize that they are tired, exhausted or wear down perhaps even sadden. I believe those who are weary need others to be like Jesus and carry their burdens with prayer and encouragement. Words of compassion and rest.
God comforts the weary he possesses true compassion for people. His words talk life into the weary person. He does not condemn them or lecture them about what they need to do. He comforts them first and so should we.
So, being compassionate to the weary person is to say let them talk and to express their emotions. To be compassionate you must be able to relate to their suffering.
If I taught a class to young counselors, I would want to make them imagine people’s pain so they can relate to it. But that relate to someone’s pain doesn’t mean you bring up your pain. We all have gone through pain in different ways. If you’ve never lived with chronic pain it would be difficult to understand the tension and stress it puts on your physical body plus emotional or psychological aspect of it. These are the things to be genuinely aware of to be empathetic to someone, that way you are going to be able to relate with compassion.
Being compassionate doesn’t mean you let them know what to do or you should be doing… It is important to build the weary person up through your prayers and pray God strengthens them.
Then once their stronger and ask for advice then give your thoughts on what works for you or what God has said etc.
I want to love as Jesus not as a pharisee. A pharisee does not have any compassion. They followed rules of must and laws. Jesus came to strengthen and free the captives. He also came to heal and restore; he loves building up the wounded not putting them out. Isaiah 42:3 “A bruised reed he will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench…”
Secondly ask God to make you empathetic and compassionate like Jesus. Because it was Jesus compassion which brought healing. The bible says He was moved with compassion and people were healed.
Mt 14:14 “And when Jesus went out, He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them and healed their sick.” Mt 20:34 “So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.”
So, we can see Jesus’ first reaction is compassion and that’s what people feel when offering a listening ear, help, kind words, prayer and give loving support.
Teach or corrective instruction words just wound the weary, hurting and downtrodden. You cannot be an effective listener or the hands of Jesus if you cannot empathize with the weary, hurting or downtrodden.
Corrected or instruct in private, love on the individual through it, don’t dump on and go. God will go through it with us and we could go through it with our family and friends through the compassion and grace of God.
“My heart is for you says the Lord.” That is what the weary need to hear his compassion.