Persevering in Faith: Don’t Give Up! Galatians 6:9
“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”
Introduction: The Challenge of Perseverance
Today we’re going to explore a powerful message from the apostle Paul that speaks to the heart of every believer’s journey: perseverance. If we’re honest, we’ve all experienced moments when we’ve been tempted to give up, when doing good feels like an uphill battle. But God calls us to endure, and He promises that our perseverance will be rewarded.
In Galatians 6:9, Paul gives us a word of encouragement and a reminder of God’s faithfulness. He says, “Let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time, we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” This verse calls us to stay faithful, to continue pressing forward, and to trust in God’s timing.
As we unpack this verse today, we’ll look at what it means to persevere, why perseverance is necessary, and how God strengthens us to keep going.
1. “Let’s Not Get Tired of Doing What Is Good” — The Call to Consistency
Paul begins this verse with a clear instruction: “Let’s not get tired of doing what is good.” This speaks to the reality that sometimes, doing good can be exhausting. Whether it's serving in ministry, caring for others, or standing up for righteousness in a world that resists it, there are moments when we grow weary. But Paul encourages us not to give up.
The Galatian church was struggling with internal conflicts and confusion over the gospel message. False teachers were leading some believers astray, and the pressure to conform to worldly practices was strong. Paul writes to them, reminding them to remain faithful to the true gospel and to persist in doing good despite opposition. The Greek word for "tired" used here is ekkakeo, meaning to grow weary or lose heart. Paul is urging the church not to lose heart when their efforts seem fruitless.
In our own lives, there are times when we may feel like our prayers are going unanswered, our service is unappreciated, or our efforts are not making a difference. But Paul’s message is clear: don’t stop doing good. God sees every act of kindness, every prayer, and every moment of service, even when it feels unnoticed.
1 Corinthians 15:58 (NLT): “So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.”
Nothing we do for God is wasted. Even when we don’t see immediate results, God is at work in ways we cannot imagine.
Consider the farmer who plants seeds in the spring. For months, he works the soil, waters the plants, and waits patiently for the harvest. There are days when it seems like nothing is happening, but beneath the surface, life is growing. In the same way, our acts of goodness may seem unnoticed, but God is working in ways we cannot see.
As Rick Warren once said, “Faithful servants never retire. You can retire from your career, but you will never retire from serving God.” Our call to do good continues until the day we meet our Saviour face-to-face.
2. “At Just the Right Time” — Trusting in God’s Timing
The second part of the verse gives us hope: “At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing.” This speaks to the principle of God’s perfect timing. Often, we want to see immediate results, but God operates on a different timetable.
In the original Greek, the phrase “at just the right time” comes from the word kairos, which refers to a divinely appointed time, a season of opportunity. It’s not about chronological time (chronos), but about God’s appointed season. Paul is reminding the Galatians that there is a season for harvest, and it’s God who determines when that season will come. Just like a farmer waits for the crop to grow, we must trust God’s timing in our lives.
How many times have we prayed for something and felt like God wasn’t answering? How often have we worked hard and wondered why we weren’t seeing the fruits of our labour? This verse reminds us that God’s timing is perfect, and He will bring about the harvest in His appointed time. Our job is to remain faithful.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NLT): “For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.”
God has appointed times and seasons for everything. When we trust in His timing, we can rest assured that the harvest will come, even if we don’t see it right away.
Imagine a woman who has been praying for years for her child to come to faith. She prays daily, shares the gospel, and lives out her faith, but the child seems uninterested. Then, after years of waiting, the child has an encounter with God that transforms their life. The woman’s faithfulness was not in vain—it was all in God’s timing.
John Piper once said, “God is always doing 10,000 things in your life, and you may be aware of three of them.” We often don’t see the full picture, but God is always at work.
3. “If We Don’t Give Up” — The Power of Perseverance
Finally, Paul encourages us to persevere: “if we don’t give up.” This is perhaps the hardest part of the verse, because it acknowledges that we may be tempted to quit. Perseverance is a mark of true faith, and it is through perseverance that we see the fulfilment of God’s promises.
The phrase “don’t give up” comes from the Greek word ekluo, which means to loosen or relax. Paul is telling the Galatians not to loosen their grip on their faith, not to relax their efforts. In a world filled with distractions and discouragement, it’s easy to let go of our commitment. But Paul calls us to hold fast and keep pressing forward.
There will be times when you feel like giving up—on your faith, on your calling, on your relationships. But God promises that if we don’t give up, we will see the harvest. The key is to remain steadfast, knowing that God is with us every step of the way.
James 1:12 (NLT): “God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”
Perseverance leads to blessing. When we endure trials and temptations, God rewards our faithfulness.
Consider a marathon runner. The race is long, and there are times when the runner feels like quitting. But they press on, knowing that the finish line is ahead. When they finally cross the finish line, the joy of completing the race makes all the effort worth it. In the same way, the trials we face now will one day be eclipsed by the joy of God’s eternal reward.
As Charles Spurgeon once said, “By perseverance, the snail reached the ark.” Even slow, steady progress in our faith will lead us to the fulfilment of God’s promises.
Conclusion: Perseverance in the Christian Life
As we close, I want to remind you of Paul’s message in Galatians 6:9: “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time, we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” This is a promise from God. He sees your efforts, He knows your struggles, and He is faithful to bring about the harvest in His perfect timing.
We are called to:
Stay consistent in doing good, even when it’s hard.
Trust in God’s timing, knowing that He is always at work.
Persevere, holding on to the promises of God, even when we feel like giving up.
Call to Action: Keep Going in Faith
I want to encourage you today—if you’re weary, if you’ve been serving, praying, and doing good but feel like giving up—don’t lose heart! God is with you, and He has a harvest of blessing in store. Keep pressing forward, trusting that at just the right time, His promises will be fulfilled in your life.
Invitation for Those Who Don’t Know Jesus
And for those of you who may not yet know Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, let me extend this invitation to you: Jesus gave His life so that you could have eternal life. He endured the cross, persevering through pain and suffering, so that you could be forgiven and made new. Today, He invites you to come to Him, to receive His love and grace, and to begin a journey of faith that will lead to eternal joy. Don’t delay—come to Jesus today, and experience the abundant life He promises.
