“In the struggle, our faith is made firm, and we become who we were made to be.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – August 20, 2026
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, ESV
When I was young and newly married, my wife and I decided to spend a year of our lives on mission for the Lord, serving the “least of these” in far-flung corners of the world. This work required financial supporters who would partner with us in this good work, and we therefore hosted several fundraising events to cast a vision for the mission and how people could partner with us. I remember at the end of one of these evenings, a man I didn’t know terribly well came up to me and said, “I’m so inspired by your youthful zeal and passion!”
I remember being somewhat confused by his comment. This work didn’t feel like work at all. It felt like a great adventure of faith, giving ourselves freely and fully for the Lord! Yet a few decades on from that season, I now resonate with that man’s comment more than I ever thought possible!
The longer we live, the more we need the renewing grace of the Lord. It isn’t that I no longer trust him or believe in the goodness of serving him whenever and wherever he calls; it’s simply that the weight of the world has a way of pressing down upon us the longer we live. Deep disappointments catch us off-guard and shape us in surprising ways. We live through the loss of precious loved ones. Unexpected diagnoses shake us to our core.
Simply put, what once came effortlessly in one season can, over time, become a daily struggle. If you’ve ever found yourself in this place, or are there right now, let Paul’s words from Galatians 6:9 be a source of deep consolation and strength to you today. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. There is a real temptation we may face to give up and grow weary in doing good. Everything simply feels too overwhelming, and we’re too exhausted or burnt out. There are seasons when faith comes freely, and there are others when it is an act of the will, a step of faith that requires determined perseverance and great courage.
This isn’t a sign that something has gone wrong. No, it is a source of hope and encouragement, for it is in the struggle that our faith is made firm and we become the men and women we were made to be. In every time and place, the Lord is with us, and in his presence we are made whole.
Prayer
Father, whether we are filled with youthful zeal or are in a season of principled and determined obedience, remind us that you are with us, and in due season we will reap if we do not give up, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Application
Where are you most tempted to give up today? Ask the Lord to fortify and strengthen your faith in that area today, that you may run your race with perseverance to the very end.
Related Reading
Isaiah 40:31; 2 Corinthians 4:16-17; Hebrews 12:1-2
Worship Resource
Ellie Holcomb: I Will Carry You
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