Do Not Grow Weary: A Reminder As We Labor On

This article originally appeared on She the Fierce. 

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” -Galatians 6:9

My mom, a saint who is still in the process of raising ten children, quoted this verse to me at least once a month throughout my upbringing. Homeschooling brought some unique challenges, one of which was not being affirmed in how her parenting choices were correct. Until I was in college, it was hard to see where I stood with my peers and how her parenting philosophies held up to time.

Good work: it’s hard. There are many times in my day to day life when I want to simply give up. On laundry, on my marriage, on myself. It is overwhelming to step into another day waiting patiently on the Lord to bring about the harvest. My life has been a long, dry summer and I’m aching for rain from heaven.

Judging from the people around me, I’m not alone. We are all waiting on something. On the marriage that will make us feel complete, on the children that will fill our hearts, on children that let us sleep through the entire night, on a season to slow down, on the house that we’ve been eyeing, on our husband to notice the make-up we labored over; the list never ends. We all are waiting on the Lord as we labor through the days, doing good.

So I make another pot of coffee, I transfer the laundry, and I pour myself out like rain on the lives of the people around me. Because while I’m waiting for my rain, I can’t miss the opportunity to bring about the relief they need to help their harvest grow.

The seeds of a freezer meal, a cup of coffee, a listening ear; we don’t always see the fruit they bring. Even rarer is the fruit of diligent work in the home, patience towards children who are on your last nerve, or the kind word that turns away wrath. The labor we do in our homes is not often acknowledged. Trudging is probably the most accurate description most days. We trudge on into the labor God has put before us.

But the thing is, it’s not just the end we’re waiting for. The process matters. Our lives are transformed in these small moments when we sacrifice what we can see for the truth that God has redeemed even our small, unseen work of cleaning toilets. Even this is an act of trust that our work in creation matters, for creation will be restored. So we restore what is in front of us and give to God our best efforts.

My mom’s story doesn’t end in endless labor, wondering what God will do. It has been peppered with His goodness and glimpses of the fruit her labor has brought about. But even that isn’t satisfying.

While we think we just want to see our part, the beauty that God allows us to see in this world, the moments when we feel the fulfillment of our labor, ultimately never satisfy for they point us on to an even greater work, God’s renewed creation. One day, the fruit of every seed planted will be fulfilled. The laundry, kind words, over-looked offenses, they will blossom and we will be drawn to Zion and will see all of the glory this has led to.

So don’t give up. Keep working diligently and joyfully with the tasks placed before your hands. God is redeeming these moments of frustration and weariness. He is preparing your life and your heart. Wait for the season of harvest and be the nourishing rain to those around you. In the end, you will find yourself renewed and prepared for the eternal weight of glory.

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