Keep on Keeping on!

When I went to college and seminary, it was such an exciting time in my life.  I was surrounded by others who were headed off to full-time ministry.  We were all on the same page as far as what it meant to live out our faith for the Lord.  We all had a passion for God.  The world was full of color!

Then as we went off into this life of full-time ministry, and especially in small, struggling churches, life became less and less exciting.  Oh, there were those times when we saw God doing miraculous things.  But it's a very lonely road when you are not surrounded by people who all have the same focus.  It begins to feel discouraging when you are in the middle of the battle field.  And that's what it is...a battle field for people's souls.

Because we've been in small churches, we have not been able to go to some of the events that provide encouragement, rejuvenation and refreshment.  The money is just not there to go to our National Conference each year.  Our local group of pastors meet only every few months and that seems to be more about hearing the exciting things going on in their larger churches.  So it really starts to feel like we are alone in this.  It's easy to get bogged down in the day to day drudgery!  Everything feels drab and brown.

Then this morning I read this passage.

Galatians 6:9-10 ~
 
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

This is truth for all believers, not just those in full-time ministry.  These words were written because it can become easy to want to give up.  It's hard to live out our Christian walk in a world where we can be made fun of, ignored or considered a holy roller.  It's hard to do that even among believers who often have bad attitudes, wrong ideas or indifference towards what it means to live out the truths found in scripture.

Yet, we should not give up.  If we keep plugging away day after day, we will reap a wonderful harvest.  That doesn't mean we'll necessarily see it.  It may be that we'll never know until we stand before the Lord how our words and actions affected others.  

If you are feeling discouraged today, don't give up!  Keep getting back up and moving forward.  Let's encourage one another in our walk.  There will be those wonderful moments when we can clearly see God working, but there will also be those times when all is drab and brown.  But don't give up.  Just do the next thing.

Keep on keeping on!