“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Galatians 6:9

Levi’s plane landed and the pastor was waiting for him when he picked up his luggage. After the initial greetings, he asked his friend how things were going.
“Sunday School is a flop. The youth are more interested in games than Jesus. No one wants to work in the nursery even though the parents won’t discipline their children during worship services. Very disruptive. We have had several visitors but they don’t come back after one service with the children running everywhere. Then, most of our adults are so immature spiritually. Seemingly, they are more interested in their favorite TV show or sport than in the Word of God and growing spiritually.”

Levi laughed. Surprised, the pastor said, “You don’t understand.”
“Sure, I do. They are not following your lead, yet, and you think the church is going down the tube. And even worse, sometimes they don’t come to church. They take vacations when you have planned special days or scheduled special speakers. They fail to show up for a service they are responsible to lead and they don’t call to let you known in advance. Am I close?”

“How do you know that?”
“Well, duh. I’ve been a pastor, too. You think all my pastoral experience has been a rose garden?”

“Levi, what do we do?”

“Dear friend, we do exactly what Paul said. We do not let weariness get us down. When we are doing the right things and circumstances seem to be against us, we don’t give up. We have the promise of God that we will reap in due season. But we must not give up. If we were to give up here, we would just have to start over somewhere else. Continuing to do good here is much easier than starting from scratch in another ministry.”

“But Levi, it is so hard. So discouraging sometimes.”

“Yes, that’s true. But remember, you are not the only one who struggles with discouraging issues. The people in your congregation also deal with discouragement. Also, remember this. Growth, maturity, and success takes time. Just as a believer cannot grow by focusing on personal failures. Neither can you minister to your congregation effectively by focusing on discouraging features in it. Don’t give up.”

Dear Father, thank you for your grace and mercy. Empower us with desire and determination to grow. Enable us with spiritual fortitude to not give up. In Jesus’ name. AMEN

Let us praise God for his patience with us and live to his glory,