With Baruch, our egos subtly, slowly make us brittle. Self-importance becomes the small crack in the hull to gradually drag us under. God heard Baruch’s prideful whimpering, his mumbled prayers, his sighs, his drooping scribbles. He saw his head shakings, his slowness to rise for the day, his lightening grip on the plough. And behind it, he saw his pride, his hopes of grandeur, of recognition, of glory, like a parasite, draining his strength to serve his God with gladness. And he sees ours as well.

For men, it doesn’t always come naturally to admit weakness or hurt. Many of us strive to avoid the kind of fragility that faints in every day of adversity (Proverbs 24:10).

That made it the more challenging, a while back, to share that I felt spiritually exhausted. I needed a break. I felt, with Bilbo Baggins, like “butter scraped over too much bread.” My strength waned, my spirit slouched, and I caught myself often staring out at nothing in particular. “Have mercy on me, O Lord,” I sighed as sleep would overcome me.

I confessed my staleness to my wife and a few men. Many kind words of encouragement were given. Helpfully, they reminded me that, because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, I could continue steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that my work my was not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58). This helped. But God decided to add a missing ingredient, words he first spoke to another fatigued man.

Baruch, Jeremiah’s scribe, had been saying, “Woe is me! For the Lord has added sorrow to my pain. I am weary with my groaning, and I find no rest” (Jeremiah 45:3). Exactly, I thought. I wondered how God would comfort this man of God who had endured many trials for his name. What promise of future reward would he give? His response to Baruch’s groans struck me dead between the shoulders: “Do you seek great things for yourself? Seek them not” (Jeremiah 45:5).

Most Unlikely Sign of Pride

Sometimes — not all the time, but sometimes — our fatigue as men comes less from our great self-sacrifices and more from our selfish ambition. We must not always assume, as I had, that we are tired and despairing from running after the right things.

Certainly, selfish aspiration is a favorite temptation of Satan to all people. He who was thrown down to the earth with his hellish pride excites the same sin in both men and women. He told Adam and Eve that they could be like God. But I feel especially burdened for men.

God created men to work the ground and keep it; we are naturally ambitious, determined. Our blood quickens to seek for glory, honor, and immortality — and this can be righteous (Romans 2:7).

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