Galatians 6:9 “And let us not grow weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

Have you ever experienced a season of weariness or feeling completely burnt out? I have. In fact, I would venture to say that weariness has been experienced on a global level, especially over the last 18 months. Our circumstances may differ, but in reality, this life can bring an onslaught of worries, anxieties, loss, insecurities, and exhaustion… All of which can drain the vim and vigor right out of us.

So, in these seasons, what are we as Christians called to do? God’s Word does not tell us to ignore the pain, to push it down and pretend it is not there, or to just put on a happy face. Instead, we are called to persevere. Perseverance means to press on even in the face of seemingly impossible circumstances. Okay, but how does one persevere well? There is no “secret sauce”; however, there are some Biblical disciplines that will help us persevere when faced with the challenges of this world. I will give you three areas to consider, but I encourage you to seek out more in your own personal Bible study time.

1) Look up- Keep your eyes on Christ! “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2
We live in a world full of distractions and it can be so challenging to keep our hearts and minds fixed on our Savior. Jesus is our model of true and pure perseverance in the face of challenges. He faced ridicule, rejection, betrayal, abandonment, temptation, physical abuse, and ultimately death. In all of this Christ persevered. Why? Because He remained focused on God the Father and fully submitted to His will, knowing that God would be glorified through His suffering.

That is powerful!

For us, this means dedicating time to prayer, studying God’s Word, and daily walking by faith. Perseverance is a daily, moment by moment choice to focus either on the circumstance or on Christ. Keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus will give us the perseverance to remain faithful in the calling God has placed in our lives.

2)  Look out- Find someone to help! “And let us not grow weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Galatians 6:9

This may sound contradictory, but when you have nothing else to give, find someone to help. We are all living in a broken world and everyone you meet has dealt with or is dealing with something hard. By looking outward, we discover a world beyond our own challenges and see others who are struggling. Find an outlet to help someone else. It could be an elderly neighbor who is looking for a friend, a local charity looking for helping hands, a family who needs some encouragement, etc. When we step out of our own space to help someone else, we gain perspective, purpose, and often the potential to be a witness. It is not about the “doing” as much as it is about “sharing” in someone else’s story. When we look for ways to be a blessing, God will grant the strength to persevere.

3) Grow- Allow God to stretch your faith! “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope:” Romans 5:3-4

Seasons of growth can be painful, yet often, they are our greatest teachers. My last suggestion today is to look for opportunities of growth. Ask yourself these two questions; “What is God trying to teach me?” and “How is God revealing Himself to me in this situation”?

Sometimes the answers may not come right away, but once you get through this season, you will realize on the other side that God was right there with you. I have a personal “valley” story that taught me the lessons of the verses above. A seemingly hopeless situation led me back to the God of Hope! Now I can look back in victory and see that God alone is who brought me through that trial. I wanted to give up no less than a few times, but God was faithful. I learned that my hope is found in no other than Jesus Christ.

God’s Word is a wealth of wisdom and practical application for living with perseverance. Perseverance is trusting God’s will over my way in all circumstances. Let me leave you with this quote by Hudson Taylor, missionary to China. He said, “I have found that there are three stages in every great work of God: first it is impossible, then it is difficult, then it is done.”

Look up, look out, and grow through this season. We are called to persevere!