Learning to Hold On and Not Give Up

In review of Galatians 6:9 it says, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Bottom Line:

Don’t become tired of doing what is right, as long as you don’t give up, you’ll be rewarded when the time is right.

What this means to me:

I should never become weary or tired of doing what is good (in particular helping others), for a time will come when I’ll will reap a harvest of blessing from him, as long as I don’t get discouraged and give up.

I’m learning that whenever I go through the delays in life, I shouldn’t get discouraged. I shouldn’t lose heart. And more importantly I should never give up!

Scripture indicates that the Israelites did, and it delayed them and kept them out of the Promised Land. Numbers 14:2-4 says, “All the Israelites grumbled against Moses … ‘If only we had died in Egypt! …. We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt” (NIV). Things got tough and they gave up on their dream. They had been rescued after 400 years of slavery but then wanted to go back because they were being delayed.

Like the Israelites, some people would rather live in slavery than face the fear of freedom. They are not willing to push through and work on the problem until they get it right. They want to give up. They want to settle for mediocrity in life.

I shouldn’t settle for less than God’s best for my life. If this means going through a tunnel of conflict, I should take the tunnel. Of course, in the middle of the tunnel, it will be dark, and I’ll will want to run back to the light. But I’ve got to keep going until I come out on the other side into the light.

So Instead of getting discouraged, I am to be persistent and to pray.

Galatians 6:9 reminds me, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

This is the law of the harvest: There is always a delay between sowing and reaping. You plant in one season, and you reap in another. God wants to see if I’m going to keep cultivating, planting, and sowing. If he sees consistency, then the harvest will come. However It will not come immediately, because it proves nothing if he does it immediately; no character development or stretching of my faith.

Jesus said in Luke 18:1, “[You] must always pray and never lose heart” (Phillips).

Those are the two options I have in life: Either pray continually, or lose heart. I’ll always be doing one or the other. If I pray continually, I will not be discouraged. If I don’t pray continually, I will lose heart. I will get discouraged by the problems I’m facing; whether it’s at work or ministry or in my family. I’ve got to keep on praying!

During the delay phases of my life, I should pray, “to help me hold on and not give up.” If I do, God has promised that he will help. I am not alone, so I don’t have to get discouraged, even when I’m delayed.

In general I find that there are two categories of delays I have in life. The first is delay caused by me not taking action when I really should be. This type of delay ends up hurting me and others as well. I’m prompted to move, but instead I hold back and end up losing out. The second delay is when there is something that seems to be holding me back from accomplishing something and this is one that is referenced by today’s study.  The legitimate delays from God have always seemed to benefit me in some way or another. I just need to trust in God and his timing, be persistent and pray knowing that He has always taken care of me in the past.

My prayers for help do not always need to be a routine scheduled time slow, I can pray short prayers throughout the day. This is what is means to pray continually.

So Instead of getting discouraged, I am to be persistent and to pray.