Don't quit!

A couple of verses that have particularly challenged me from the beginning of my walk with Jesus are Galatians 6:9-10. They read, “And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.”

Do you ever grow weary of doing the right thing? I know I do. Sometimes it’s all I can do keep keeping on. I’m convinced that one of Satan’s biggest tools is discouragement. He has such an arsenal. He can use difficult circumstances to discourage you like a loss of a job or the death of a loved one. He can use unfulfilled expectations to discourage you. Nothing discourages like dreaming a dream that never comes to pass. This is why God was so pleased with King David— he dreamed big dreams but he didn’t let God’s nos get him down. But Satan’s most effective tool for discouragement is people. People like you and me. The old nursery rhyme says, “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.” I don’t know where that originated but it simply isn’t true. People say the most hurtful things. Even people who love each other say things that wound and cut and hurt.

I think Paul understood this so he encourages the Galatians not to quit even when they felt weary and wanting to give up. Now there is one reason that he gives not to quit. He says if you don’t quit, you will reap in due season. If you don’t quit doing good, you will be blessed. If you don’t quit doing that thing you know God wants you to do, you will see reward. There is always a time for sowing and a time for reaping and the truth is the reaping time always comes later than sowing– some times much later.

We often think that God promises that if we don’t allow weariness to cause us to give up, that in this life everything is going to eventually be peachy and just like we want it. Now I honestly believe that God does give us blessings in this life but the fulfillment of God’s promise ultimately lies in heaven. The unbeliever says, “Oh that is just pie in the sky.” No matter how much we wish we had heaven on earth, God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, Paul says.

I don’t know about you but I’ve been weary lately, tired. Maybe you have too. Let’s not give up! Let’s set our face like a flint and stay the course. Remember, we have yet to experience all the wonders God has planned for us who love Him!

I’m pressing on. Press on with me!