DO NOT BECOME WEARY!
I recently pondered the verse where Paul tells us in Galatian 6 v 9 - “Let us not become weary in well-doing, for in due time, if you don’t give up, you will reap a reward.”
It’s such a well known scripture we are often reminded to hold to. However, I’ve come to realise that this simple biblical truth is not so easy to do. When life throws its worst at you or your family members, whether that be at your relationships, your marriage, in your job, your living situation, or health issues, it often feels easier to try to push through or just let go.
We can be tempted to stop expecting, stop caring, stop trying, stop bringing honor to a dishonourable situation, or stop holding on to hope.
In my own experiences within the past year, I’ve been encouraged to keep calm and carry on despite the losses and the storms. To push through and to not notice everything that shouts, “Just give in” or “Give up, it’s just not worth it, God’s not going to show up this time!
My most recent reminder was in the area of my prayer and faith life.
Having watched so many broken relationships over time splintering into tiny pieces, or disappearing, I had convinced myself that this is just how life is, yet trying to hold on to promises faithfully. I continued to pray and to wait, to believe and trust a little longer, despite what was presenting in front of me, despite the disappointments.
My emotions often wanted me to run and hide, yet my spirit wanted me to keep trusting in God ‘s provision to bring hope instead of despair, restoration to broken relationships and freedom to speak truth despite the fear of rejection. I remember Nii Noi sharing one sunday morning back in the late spring, that “Winter had passed and the summer had come” or words to that effect. It was a declaration! It resonated with me, things were beginning to change around me in the area of restoration, although it wasn’t fully obvious. I sat in City Church weeks later and from the row where I was sitting across the church, I saw the word RECONCILIATION in someone’s journal, it jumped out at me. I noticed it. It looked as if it were the only word on the page. At the end of the service on the way to collect the children, I commented on what I had read to the owner of the book. I was asked my name and what it had meant to me, right there and then this lovely woman prayed for me to know the restoration of Jesus and reconciliation within my family. I cannot begin to tell you the series of events that followed next. I have since witnessed several relationships being restored and reconnected within my family, some of which included decades of breakdown and loss. This was something miraculous and is still ongoing!!
It was then that I remembered James 5 v 16 ~ “The prayers of the righteous person is POWERFUL & EFFECTIVE”.
Our prayers have great power, they are working for good.
Back to Galatians 6… “Do not grow weary of doing good,” we WILL see answers to our prayers, maybe not all at once, or even straight away. If I’m honest I think I had stopped believing and had grown complacent. The great news is that God had already heard my prayers and begun answering them, even as we pray he hears. Our timing isn’t always his, we need to remember God hasn’t finished yet he really hasn’t..
If you are reading this and facing your fair share of challenges, and disappointments, be encouraged, “DON’T GIVE UP!” He’s doing things in the waiting, be prepared to give God the glory in the unknown. Praise him and continue to trust him. Jesus doesn’t give up on us. Hold on, press in, and do not give up. It may help to keep a journal or prayer diary, it will help to anticipate the outcome of his faithfulness yet to come and remember… in the waiting - WORSHIP HIM!!