[ The paperback book “Weary Christian” contains 140 Scripture references. This first chapter is an example of these references. The remainder of the book on SubStack does not contain these Biblical references. ]
Enemy was on the move1, and his Withered Tempters pounced upon Weary Christian; their yellowed, jagged talons slashed and snapped at him. Weary fell to the ground, rolled onto his belly, and covered his head with his hands.
The Tempters surrounded him and danced upon his back. He could no longer hold them off! Their viciousness was unbridled. Already, Enemy stood beside Weary, gloating at how easily Weary Christian had fallen. Soon Weary would go the way of countless other sons of man, lost and destroyed by Enemy’s merciless power manifested in Enemy’s legion of Tempters.
Suddenly, the Tempters were parted like the Red Sea, the evil ones on top of Weary cast aside, and a way of escape opened before him. Springing to his feet, Weary ran as hard as he could, not even looking back to see how close the Withered Tempters were. Finally, when no strength remained within him, Weary glanced over his shoulder; no one was there! Weary’s heart told him that Father had made a way of escape where none had existed2.
Exhausted, Weary Christian sat himself down upon a rock, pulled off his weathered boots, and began plucking sin-thicket needles from his wool socks. His big toe showed through a hole in his left sock, and the heels of both socks were threadbare. Weary sighed.
Having traveled over the many Trials Mountain and across the Dry and Thirsty desert, where Weary had poured buckets of sand out of his pauper’s boots, Weary Christian now sat upon the rock that marked the entrance to the Woods of Uncertainty. Weary sighed again.
Weary felt the Woods of Uncertainty pulling at him; with each step, he became more confused. Weary was no longer sure if he cared about his journey. Good Shepherd told him to make this journey and had assured Weary that He would never leave or forsake him3. At least that’s what Weary had thought Good Shepherd said. Things seemed so clear and confident when Weary first began his trek. But Weary’s start seemed so long ago to him. Now, with his travel so difficult, Weary felt foolish. How could he have been so presumptuous as to think Good Shepherd would speak to him?
When Weary began his trek, he was told by his Little Faith community of brothers and sisters in Familiarland not to worry. His new life would be easy4, and he would become prosperous. Oh, he would see dangers, but those were only tricks of the eye or open-book tests that were common and inconsequential. After all, Weary Christian was a King’s kid; Father would allow no harm to come to Weary. Things were so safe and comfortable in Familiarland. Why had he ever left!?
The woods ran for miles to the left and to the right of the rock upon which Weary sat, but there was only one entrance into Uncertainty, and it was by leaving the rock behind. The six feet that separated that rock from the edge of Uncertainty bore a well-worn path, not of stone or brick but dirt trampled by countless souls.
The place where Weary sat was not at all unpleasant. He immensely enjoyed his brief respite. Looking behind him, all the land seemed monochrome; there was a sameness that covered everything. The land, trees, and roads were variations of the same color scheme. That was not true for the Woods that lay before him. It was lush with emerald greens, chocolate browns, and wildflowers of every possible color. And it beckoned Weary.
Weary pulled on each boot, slid down the rock, and landed with both feet upon the path that led into the Woods of Uncertainty. His destiny lay beyond Uncertainty, so he decided to get on with it5. As he stepped into the Woods of Uncertainty, he was engulfed in a musty, decaying scent.
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Weary had now traveled far into Uncertainty. He was tired and felt out of sorts. A thought began to take shape in Weary’s mind; he wondered if he had been betrayed by Good Shepherd and his Little Faith community. He had never thought like that before. He became more confused as he contemplated those thoughts. Memories of Familiarland tugged at his mind. Oh, how he wished he could go back and sit in a proper chair, eat a decent meal, and curl up in his friendly, warm, proper bed. Nevertheless, Weary knew that obedience to Good Shepherd was the right thing to do6, so Weary trudged on.
Suddenly, as Weary was walking, there appeared before him a clearing, and in the clearing a luminescence he had never before seen. Leaves of doubt dimmed all light in those woods, yet there was that brilliant light in the clearing before him, a brilliance nearly too difficult to bear7. Yet, within the clearing, he could see two doors in its midst, one small and one large8.
Why were those doors there, and where did they lead? Weary thought that doors in a clearing in the woods made no sense, but he was too tired to perceive their purpose. So Weary, crossing his legs, plopped down on Uncertainty’s chilly, damp, earthy floor.
He was perplexed and feared the thought now running in his mind: “Turn back! Return to Familiarland and your Little Faith community.” Despite the haze in his mind, he knew he could never return to Little Faith9; that was no longer his home.
So, there he sat. And he sat there for a very long time. Slowly, he became aware of a breeze that somehow was more than pleasing; it was nourishing. He was feeling stronger through no act of his own. “Oh,” thought Weary, “that’s Gentle Breeze. He is here with me!
Now Peace came upon Weary. He was entirely unexpected. Weary had known Peace, but Peace was elusive. Each time Weary thought Peace would remain with him, Peace vanished. Worry was natural, but when Weary began to worry, Peace left him.
Now Peace had returned! An unexplainable joy filled Weary. And Weary became aware that accompanying Peace was Hope and Grace! Oh, how Weary had enjoyed so many adventures with Hope, Grace, and Peace. He longed for those times past, but his heart told him to gather strength from those times but not to desire to return to them10.
Finally, after what may have been days, Weary felt strengthened and refreshed by Gentle Breeze and the abiding presence of Peace, Hope, and Grace. But Weary was hesitant to walk into the light and approach the doors. He didn’t think he could deal with another decision, another test, another trial. Unexpectedly, he heard Gentle Breeze whisper, “Your journey led you to this test, and all you’ve experienced has prepared you for it. Do you remember meeting Faith?”
“Oh my! Yes!” Weary exclaimed out loud. It was because of Grace and Faith that he’d begun this journey. After Good Shepherd’s command, Faith had built a deeper relationship with Good Shepherd in Weary’s heart. Grace and Faith had made Good Shepherd’s words alive in Weary.
Grace and Faith had led Weary out of Death city, but unlike so many of his new brothers and sisters, Weary Christian determined in his heart to do anything that would please Good Shepherd11. This desire was why Weary now sat on Uncertainty’s damp, uneven ground.
Suddenly, Weary became alarmed! Peace was starting to leave him. Weary could not bear this, so he cried out, “Good Shepherd, help me! I cannot live without Peace!” Then Grace stood up and spoke to Good Shepherd, saying, “Let me give him what he lacks.” And Good Shepherd said, “Yes.” Instantly, Weary leaped to his feet and stepped out of Uncertainty and into the glorious light that radiated from Good Shepherd. Warmth poured over Weary; an unusual strength welled up within him.
Upon closer inspection, Weary found that one door was smaller than the other. Its lintel and doorposts were grey, rough-hewn wood, stained with splashes of red, and its door dyed in crimson.
It was an ancient door. The weathered wood was filled with nail holes, and one would have to bow down on their knee to squeeze through it12. The second door seemed large, relatively modern, and chrome with brass fittings. In Weary’s heart, he knew the purpose of these two doorways.
“Good Shepherd’s Will” was written on the crimson door, and written on the second door was “Easy Way13.” Easy Way even had a proximity sensor that automatically opened the door when someone approached it, like in grocery stores.
Weary was a true believer in Good Shepherd and had made the correct choice when Good Shepherd called him to this journey. So, why was Weary being confronted with these two doors?
As Weary stood between the doors, swaying back and forth. Faith came and stood beside him. Faith spoke quietly to Weary and said, “What you have longed for has led you here, and what you would have is beyond the door of Good Shepherd’s Will.” Bam!! Suddenly the Easy Way door snapped open. Smoke rolled out as Temptation strode out and stood in front of Weary."
Weary had wrestled with the Withered Temptations, and he didn’t come out on top on several occasions! Temptation was a giant. What was he doing here, wondered Weary? This place wasn’t Death City14 or Dry and Thirsty desert15. This place was just a tiny spot deep in Uncertainty, far away from all Weary had known before.
Weary’s heart sank. He was tired and couldn’t imagine fighting Temptation again. It had taken Weary all his strength to rise and stand before these two doors. How could he battle Temptation?
Temptation began to boast, claiming Weary’s defeat and Enemy’s victory. At that moment, Faith, Grace, and Hope reached out and grabbed hold of Weary so he would not fall16. Then a voice like rolling thunder spoke. It was the voice of Good Shepherd. “Let him be!” said Good Shepherd. At the sound of Good Shepherd’s voice, all became quiet. Not a sound came from the sky or the woods or from those gathered in the clearing.
Good Shepherd spoke gently to Weary, “Only you can choose. Which door shall it be?” Weary smiled a crooked smile and fell to his knees. Faith unlocked Good Shepherd’s Will, and Weary crawled through. The moment he entered, he was changed.