My feet climbed the stairs as they always have to my youngest daughter’s room. And like almost every night, I pulled her vanity chair next to her bed. This was our time at the end of a full day to talk, read a little and pray. I’d like to say that I have done this perfectly over the years, but I haven’t. There have been night’s where my own tiredness or the day’s challenges got the best of me.
But on this particular night, my daughter did something different and unexpected.
God has a way of sending encouragement in seasons where we are tired, and we wonder if the things we are doing are really making a difference? Have you ever been there? Maybe you’re there right now? The hard work of plowing and planting. And this can be said of not just motherhood, but marriage, singleness, work or any part of life.
Yet as Christians, we serve a God, who in His tender mercy, allows us to see glimpses of His grace working in our lives, at just the right time, so that our hearts may be strengthened to continue in faithfulness.
In Galatians 6:9, it says, “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
The above verse reminds me that we are all prone to weariness and that our fleshly nature is bent towards giving up when we see no harvest.
We are tempted to give up in doing any good...
when we see no change in a conflict.
when we see no change in our finances.
when we see no change in our marriage.
when we see no change in a wayward son or daughter.
when we see no change in a work situation.
But the Lord in His infinite wisdom trains us how not to give up by allowing us plenty (and I will say it again, plenty) of opportunities to live by the Spirit, not the flesh. We learn to walk by faith and not by sight. We learn to rely on His word as a compass and a guide, not on the “obvious and seen” circumstances around us.
Paul encouraged his Galatian brothers to live by the Spirit and to continue doing good because there is indeed a promised return if they do not give up.
And that harvest will come in due season, God’s appointed time. It is the promise that all that we do for God and His glory is never done in vain. It’s a promise that is tied to perseverance; to keep on keeping on...
So how do we keep on when we feel tired and weak?
Pray first. Go to God. A simple heartfelt prayer, “Lord, help me I’m tired.” God is the only One who can give you the strength and perseverance to continue. All that we need is found in Him.
Isaiah 40:29
He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.
Flesh or Spirit? Sometimes just stepping back and asking yourself, “Is what you desire gratifying to your flesh or the Spirit?” Answering this can bring focus, clarity and even help to put wind in your sails again.
Galatians 5:16
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
Acknowledge. Any God-given task is hard. As you set out to do good in service to God and others- family, marriage, work, etc- it will be met with spiritual opposition. Remember, you’re on a battlefield, not a playground. Don’t expect it to be easy and for Satan to just lay down as you move forward to advance the gospel. Put on your armor beloved.
Ephesians 6:12
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Stay in your word. Saturate your mind with truth. Meditate on scripture. Memorize scripture. Wake up to scripture. Go to bed to scripture. Allow God's timeless truth to steady your thoughts and to anchor your feet.
Romans 10:17
So faith comes fromhearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
So back to my daughter…
As I prayed over her and finished up, I lifted my head, ready to give her a kiss and walk towards the door when she stopped me and asked, “Mom, how can I pray for you?”
Unprompted. Unexpected.
No longer did I see my youngest daughter sitting beside me but a fellow sister in Christ. A sister who cared enough to ask how she might pray for me that night. I stumbled over my response but was glad to share it with her.
God in that moment showed me a glimpse of His grace at work in my daughter's life, as well as my own life as a mother.
As I closed the door to her bedroom that night, I was reminded to stay faithful in discipling her young heart. That what I am doing as a mom, though oftentimes is met with no tangible evidence, is making a difference.
So as we approach the new year, where is God calling you to persevere in doing good?
Stay faithful beloved.
Louise Moulton is a pastor's wife, mom, and nana to Haven & Kaiden. Her passion is to encourage and equip women to live for God's glory