Faint not

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

(Galatians 6:9, NKJV)

Susan Elizabeth Phillips of Texas is noted for the quote “Anything worth having is worth fighting for”.  Many of us use this quote when we look at the challenges and hurdles of reaching a goal and we encourage ourselves that it is not meant to be easy.  We are usually ready to push the boundaries for something that we believe is good for us and it is to our advantage.  The patience to keep going and the commitment to keep the focus speaks to the value that we place to the end goal.  Regardless of the magnitude of the success expect, there is always a measure of perseverance required and a faith that the end result will be as positive as expected.  The value that we place on the ultimate goal becomes the motivator for the sacrifice and the pain that we are willing to bear to reach it. The same concept applies to us as we hold our faith and commitment to our goal as believers.

The word of God is clear that we will face difficult times in our journey of faith, a truth that we are invited to live in the awareness of.  Jesus speaking to His disciples reminded them that they will have trouble in the world but they should take courage in the fact that He has already overcome (John 16:33).  Beloved, the world did not accept our Lord, we can therefore not be ignorant of the troubles and rejection that we shall face in pursuing our faith.  Apostle Paul in writing to the Philippians used a popular verse, calling us to know Christ and the power of His resurrection.  This is what we quote often but the sentence does not end there, it is says that we also know the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings as we become conformed to His death (Philippians 3:10).  Nobody wants to know pain and sufferings, but experiencing the same in line with our faith helps us to become more like our Lord. The book of James gives an interesting twist on how we should look at trials and troubles, he asks us to count it all joy for the testing of our faith produces patience which leads to our perfection (James 1:3-4).  I confess brethren, that thinking of trials joyfully does not come easy, it is not our normal reaction to situations.  Our joy will not be because of the trials but will be based on the results of perfection that we expect once we overcome.

Our reference verse implores us to hold on to faith regardless of the present hardships we face.  Our eyes must remain focused on the end goal, the due season when we shall reap our rewards.  We cannot allow our strength to fail for if we do, then we shall faint along the way and not reach our goal as overcomers in Christ.  May we have the resolve that Apostle Paul refers to, that our present sufferings do not compare to the glory that will be revealed to us (Romans 8:18).  When we are in the thick of things, we might lose sight of the end game, may the Holy Spirit keep us reminded that the game has been rigged in our favour, we are overcomers in Christ, more than conquerors.  It might not appear so in the physical but that does not change the truth of God’s word.  Beloved, may we see ourselves on the other side of victory and in so doing, remain faithful, fainting not.  Arise oh saint of God, lift your head up and see your salvation is near, we are just passing through.  Our goal is eternal life with Christ, a glorious ending is assured.

Thoughts

What battles are you fighting?

What is your attitude in the battle?

How does knowing the end impact your today?