“At the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9 NIV
“When you are doing God’s work, it is always too soon to quit.”
My thoughts today are about “too soon to quit.”
I wonder how many people quit – walk away tired and discouraged – just before they see the fruit of all their efforts? There are many things that will tempt you to give up. When others do, you will want to. You will face difficulty and the discouragement that comes with that. You will wrestle with doubts where you once were certain. You will grow tired of the demands and short on needed resources. You will feel alone as Elijah did and wonder if it is worth it. See 1 Kings 19:10,14. Good people sometimes feel like turning in their resignation, but in life, to whom do you resign?
What I want you to know is this: when you are doing God’s work, it is always too soon to quit. Maybe the only difference between the person who succeeds and another who fails is a refusal to give in or give up. Life is not a sprint of a few quick bursts of energy and effort; life is a marathon, sometimes grueling, always long and exhausting. The Bible encourages, “Let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish.” Hebrews 12:1-2 NLT.
There are two distinguishing qualifications in today’s verse. “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest, if we do not give up.” The harvest is promised to all but not to everyone that tries; the harvest is reserved for those unwilling to give up, and content to wait for the proper time.
Success begins with believing that you will succeed – when accompanied with your willingness to do everything necessary and make any sacrifice required in order to succeed. “The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. You too be patient; strengthen your hearts.” James 5:7-8 NAS. Success in life remains elusive to those in a hurry for it, as well as for those unconvinced of its value and the hard work required.
I think Moses felt like quitting during forty years tending sheep in the wilderness – or when Israel wanted to stone him and return to Egypt – or Joseph, when something went wrong every time He was just getting ahead – or Job, when his wife urged him to curse God and die, and his friends assumed Job was to blame for the things happening to him – or David, when he was running from Saul and living among former enemies – or Elijah, who battled with bouts of depression and paralyzing fear – or Paul, confined in prison and feeling alone. But read their story to the end. They decided they were doing God’s work, and it was too soon to quit. See 2 Timothy 4:6-13 NIV.
Do you feel like giving up today? On a project, on a friendship, on a job, on a marriage, on a dream, on yourself – or on your faith? Draw encouragement from those who persevered and ultimately prevailed. Trust me; whatever the circumstance, it is not the right time to give up.
My prayer for you today is to hold fast to hope and resolve to do what’s right.