Sometimes, in various seasons of life, the Lord will give me a scripture which I can place as a banner over my life for a precise time. Perhaps it is one of comfort, encouragement, loving rebuke, or a promise. I hold dear each of these verses and I can look back and remember how the Lord specifically ministered to me in an exceptionally intimate way through His Word.
Galatians 6:9 has been one of those verses. “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”
I have to admit that in many things in life that would be considered “good,” I have quit. For example, sewing. I love to sew. I can sew a total of three things: aprons, stockings, and pillows. But, if you were to look in my sewing box, you would find several unfinished projects. I tend to stop trying at the first glitch that comes along: thread breakage, cutting wrong size patterns, crooked hemlines, puckered seams, slightly crooked topstitching.
Yes, this analogy has minimal value and significance in the grand scheme of life, but what about those things the Lord is calling us to be faithful in which do matter? Things that are not easy to be diligent in. Things that seem to have no silver lining or happy ending. Maybe it is obedience to God in a certain area of our lives: praying for a loved one, praying for restoration with a loved one, waiting on a spouse or job, or maybe just being diligent while we are waiting for a change in any circumstance.
There are several biblical examples of those who did not give up in doing what God had called them to do and the Lord blessed them for it: Hannah pleaded with the Lord for a son and endured much opposition, yet remained faithful and gave birth to Samuel by the grace of God. Jacob waited for Rachel, in the Book of Genesis, for 14 years so that he could reap the harvest of being married to the woman God had in store for him. The Apostle Paul said, “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58 NIV).
I can think of others who gave up; they grew weary of doing good and missed out on the harvest that was coming: Sampson was robbed of His incredible strength because he gave in to the obstacle of temptation. The Rich Young Ruler in the Gospels had a desire to do right, but when the stakes were high he gave up and lost heart.
Oftentimes it can be hard to continue to do the right thing when we are being hard pressed or challenged in it. But in God’s timing, we too will reap a harvest if we do not grow weary in doing good!
Oh such a good article! Be Blessed!
Wow! It’s incredible how God speaks to you whenever you need it more. Thank you for this article. I help with the singles in my church and sometimes I ask myself, “Do they really understand it”, “Do they get it?” I can not grow weary in doing good! Thank you again!
Wow! It’s amazing how, what appears to be, one measly little sentence can change your life’s perspective forever! God’s Word is so powerful and this verse could not have come to me at a better time! God is so good! My family and I have been encouraged and blessed by this article.
Thank you for this good word. I am waiting right now for my husband to stop drinking. I have learned a lot through the process. I am praying and being respectful of this very good man who is trying to manage his drinking but is starting to realize that it’s too late for that. I know God has been with both him and me through this and I have no doubt this will work out according to God’s perfect will in the end. The process has turned resentment into patience, unconditional love, endurance and faith to leave it in God’s hands. Thanks for the reminder from this verse.
Thank you for this! It really spoke to me.
Thank you so much for sharing. I have been struggling with separation from my sons, (25 & 23). At times I feel my heart will not take it, then comes His word and His warmth like only He knows how to do, then the pain
is not so bad. God bless.
This is a wonderful article and a challenge to us all. It is easy to give up when adversity comes along, but God said He would be there with us through every challenge if we do not lose heart. If we rest in His arms and rely on His strength, we can be victorious regardless of the opposition we experience. Sometimes we deal with issues that break our hearts and we don’t see the end of the challenge, but God does. So often we give up just before victory, just before the goal is achieved, just before relief comes. I pray that we learn that we stay the course until God brings that relief and release of His love and assurance.
Amen! Many times I have felt like giving up, but God never gives up on us…. I know this to be true in my own life. Through immense pain and adversity, the Lord carries us, and the victory does come. God’s plans are to prosper us and not to harm us, to give us a hope and a future. He WILL and always does deliver on his promises. Never give up! Never Give in! Hold on……our God is mighty to save…
Love It! What an encouragement to me to remain faithful to what God has placed/called me to do with my time, energy and life.
Thanks Tiff! What an excellent reminder to keep running this race, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith! He is so faithful, and His Word is Truth :)
Thanks. This article was such an encouragement for me!! It’s so amazing how God knows just what you need at just the right time!! :)
Thank you. I’ve been encouraging friends and family members to seek a personal relationship with Christ. Lately feeling like it’s all in vain as I hear pastors doing the same and see the same blank stares that I get. This encourages me to keep on going. :)
This is a beautiful message! I did not know about this site but since I subscribe to Greg’s daily messages maybe this is included….or maybe God knew just what to send me and knew when I needed it! Bless you!!
Tiffany,
We are in 3 huge trials right now. My husband hasn’t worked in a long time, we are getting ready to move to a different town with no income, and we have to use our credit card instead of cash. They look like GIANTS, feel like GIANTS, and are GIANTS according to the world’s standards. But, I can’t look at them that way. They are gnats in God’s economy. Still, I get frustrated and want action! God has given me Isaiah 64:4: “… Who acts for the one who waits for Him.” Yes, I want all this over with, but I wouldn’t be learning what God has for us and He wouldn’t receive the glory.
Thank you for the reminder. He is faithful in everything.
I too feel that we are in the last days; families, friendships and all types of relationships are going thru heavy trials and one type of test or another, but as we go thru the fire there is one hope, one thing that will carry us thru whatever this life challenges us with and that is Jesus. So I hold on tight to the faithful one, I hold on tight to my Heavenly Father who will shelter from the storm and never leave nor forsake His own.
This article really spoke to my heart. We are facing some trials that seem so overwhelming at times. Thank you for the reminder of how faithful our God is.