“If we do not give up”

“And let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9)

There is never a good time to give up! But I know sometimes we feel like it… when we do not see what we need to see, when we get tired or disappointed, when it looks impossible, when we listen to the nay-sayers that discourage us. But the Lord gives us a promise, a hope to hold on to… that in due season we shall reap. That “due season” is usually according to His time frames, plans and purposes, not ours. Knowing that promise, having absolute faith in God’s Word gives us strength and the will not to give up… no matter what we face!

One of my favorite poems is “Sail On! Sail On!” by Joaquin Miller. It’s a poem about the journey of Columbus as he sailed to find a new world. In each stanza, the first mate comes to Columbus with bad and discouraging news. The continual flow of bad news includes lines such as, “The very stars are gone, what shall we do?” and Columbus responds, “Sail On Sail On”… “The men grow mutinous day by day, ghastly wan and weak, what do you say? “Columbus again responds, “Sail On, Sail On”… “The very winds have forgotten their way, now speak brave Admiral” again “Sail On Sail On”… “The mad sea shows its teeth tonight, he curls his lips, he lies in wait, with lifted teeth as if to bite, What shall we do when hope is gone?” and still he answers, “Sail On Sail On”. And in the last stanza when finally land is spotted, “Then pale and worn he kept his deck, and through the darkness… a light, a light, He gave that world its watchword, “On, and On!”

We have a greater Captain, the Captain of our Salvation (Heb. 2:10) who is faithful to see us through in our journey to a new and glorious world… and through Him we continue to sail on… sail on!