Are you feeling weary? Are you dealing with circumstances or obstacles that challenge your endurance? Are you facing difficulties in achieving your goals? Sometimes we hit bumps on the road in categories like our health, our finances, or our relationships. When that happens, how do we keep moving forward without losing heart?
In His Word, God lovingly provides us with encouragement.
Galatians 6:9:
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
The words “be weary” mean to lose one’s courage or to lose heart in the face of trial or evils. Ever been there? To “faint” is to loosen out or relax. This can be tempting to do when we’ve been holding on and holding out for a long time. But God is the great encourager, and this verse calls out to us: Don’t lose your courage, don’t lose heart, don’t get weary in well doing or faint in your mind. Why? Because in due season, we shall reap. We’ll receive the fruit of our labors.
So how do we keep moving forward when we’re tempted to lose heart or faint in our minds? Here are a few practical keys to help us:
Go to the light of God’s Word.
God’s Word provides us with spiritual light that guides us through times of need.
Psalm 119:130:
The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
We can find scriptures or records in His Word that remind us of God’s power and might. We let the light of God’s Word shine brightly on the situation, eliminating the darkness. The light of God’s Word helps us not to faint.
Maintain a spiritual mindset by focusing on the hope of Christ’s return.
Knowing that our lord and savior is coming back will help us focus on the eternal rather than the temporary circumstances we’re facing today.
II Corinthians 4:15-18:
For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
When we’re faced with affliction, we may be tempted to only look at the “things which are seen,” the facts of the situation, the things that are right in front of our face. And these can be very discouraging. They can even be contrary to God’s Word. But here’s the thing—they are temporary. Christ is coming back! Compared to the weight of glory that is to come, any afflictions or challenges we face today can be considered a light affliction.
Pray often.
Jesus Christ encouraged his followers to pray.
Luke 18:1:
And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint.
When we pray, we get God Almighty, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, involved in our lives. We release our burdens, giving them to Him. And as we persist in prayer, our heavenly Father is faithful to hear and answer us. Prayer leads to peace. As we pray, God’s peace will keep, guard, and protect our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6,7).
Rely on God’s strength.
Isaiah 40:28-31:
Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.
He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
God gives power to the faint when natural energy and abilities fail. When we feel as though we have no might, He increases our strength. When we “wait upon the Lord,” we look for and expect God’s power, authority, and ability to energize and enable us. Then our strength is renewed so that we overcome obstacles and move forward. We shall run and not be weary. We shall walk and not faint.
Bumps on the road of life may be challenging, but with God we can keep moving forward without losing heart. We have the light of His Word, the hope of Christ’s return, and the ability to pray often. We can rely on God’s strength. We can move forward!