And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. –Galatians 6:9
My friend, who is loved and cherished by God: have you ever felt like giving up? Is there a situation, circumstance, or problem right now in your life, that makes you want to give up? I can think of a few this very moment in my own life.
Maybe you have done everything right – you’ve done everything you can think of to do, you have continued in prayer, you have sought wisdom and counsel – and yet the situation is not resolved. A few weeks ago, my mom checked in on me regarding an ongoing challenge in my life. In tears, I told her, “I don’t know when God will come through and answer our prayers!” This particular challenge has not been resolved yet, but God has been gracious to give progress little by little.
Can I be so bold as to offer an encouragement? I believe that God teaches clearly through Scripture that He does not want you to give up. That may not be what one wants to hear in the middle of a trial with no end in sight, but I truly believe this is God’s heart for His beloved children. Do not give up!
If you will indulge me, I’d like to share a lesson God showed me when I was working in my backyard garden. This isn’t the first gardening metaphor I’ve ever used, and it certainly won’t be the last! I’d like to think I’m in good company as we saw Jesus speaking often of gardens and farms in his own teaching.
When I first moved into my house 5 years ago, the backyard was overtaken by nasty, thorny vines. That first year, when I set to work pulling up each vine by the root, I discovered under the surface of the ground enormous, woody root systems. I thought for sure these root systems meant I would never fully eradicate the vines. Nevertheless, I pulled up all I could, and I cut down others whose roots were too strong for me to dig up.
Do you remember when you first came to Christ? I’m willing to bet that there was a lot in your life that looked very different, very quickly. Much like when I first cut down all of those vines in my yard! But God does not leave you, nor whatever situation or challenge you are in now, in a state of surface-level change. The root systems take much longer to dig up.
Year by year, I pulled the vines that would sprout up anew. God gives us the gift of daily repentance from sin! Anything that sprouts up, God gives us the tool to cut it off by His grace.
Year by year, I covered the weedy ground with thick layers of mulch to starve the vines of sunlight. God gives us the gift of His Scriptures, in which His good promises crowd out the indwelling sinful places of our hearts!
This spring, in the 5th year, something wonderful happened in my backyard. As I examined the area where thorny vines normally overtake the ground, I noticed very few sprouting up. As I began to pull those few that had sprouted, I found the roots completely insubstantial. The whole plants were pulling up out of the ground with very little effort! As I worked, the Lord reminded me: “In due season, we will reap if we do not give up.”
My friend, the Lord promises a harvest of eternal life if you do not give up. This promise is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you. Through your faithful cutting, digging, and mulching, God is doing a work deep below the surface that is sure to result in a worthwhile harvest.
Allie
