Unwavering Faithfulness: When Good Deeds Feel Exhausting  **Scripture:** "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." – 1 Corinthians 15:58 KJV   "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." – Galatians 6:9 KJV ===================================In the Christian life, there are seasons of exhilarating growth and abundant fruitfulness, and then there are seasons of quiet, persistent labor where the results aren't immediately apparent. It's in these latter seasons, especially, that the enemy of our souls loves to whisper doubts and sow seeds of discouragement. We might find ourselves asking, "Is it really making a difference? Is anyone even noticing? Is all this effort truly worth it?"   This is precisely why the Apostle Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, exhorts us in 1 Corinthians 15:58 to be "stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord." The foundation for this unwavering commitment isn't found in fleeting feelings or immediate gratification, but in the profound truth that "your labour is not in vain in the Lord." Every act of kindness, every patient word, every selfless sacrifice, every prayer offered – all of it is seen, known, and valued by our heavenly Father. Nothing we do for His glory, done in His strength, is ever wasted.   Galatians 6:9 echoes this sentiment with a powerful promise: "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." The enemy wants us to faint, to give up just before the harvest. But God assures us that there *will* be a harvest. Our faithfulness, even when it feels like a solitary, uphill climb, is cultivating a crop of blessing, both in this life and in eternity. The key is perseverance – not giving up, not growing weary.  **Illustration:**  Consider Martha. For over sixty years, Martha had been a beacon of selfless service in her community and within her church. She had volunteered at the local food pantry every Tuesday and Thursday for decades, her hands calloused from packing countless boxes. She had cooked innumerable meals for grieving families, visited the sick in their homes, and spent countless hours counseling young mothers. Her life was a testament to "well doing."  But lately, Martha felt a creeping weariness. Her knees ached more than they used to, and the gratitude she once felt from those she served seemed to have dwindled. A new, younger generation of volunteers had joined the food pantry, and while she appreciated their enthusiasm, she sometimes felt overlooked, her years of experience taken for granted. She had poured her life out, and now, at seventy-eight, she found herself wondering, "What was it all for? Did it really make a lasting difference? I'm tired, so very tired, and sometimes it feels like it wasn't worth the effort."Discouragement was a heavy cloak she struggled to shed.   One quiet morning, as she sat with her worn Bible, her eyes fell upon 1 Corinthians 15:58: "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." As she read the words, a warmth began to spread through her heart. She wasn't doing it for recognition, or for immediate thanks, or even for measurable results in this life. She was doing it "in the Lord." Her labor was not in vain *in Him*.   Then, Galatians 6:9 surfaced in her mind: "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." The phrase "in due season" resonated deeply. Perhaps her harvest wasn't meant to be immediate or always visible. Perhaps the seeds she had sown in countless lives would blossom in ways she might never witness.   A tear rolled down Martha's cheek, but this time, it wasn't a tear of despair but of renewed resolve.The weariness was still there in her bones, but the discouragement in her spirit began to lift. She realized that her faithfulness was a testament to God's faithfulness. Her work, done for Him, was not about her recognition, but about His glory. She might not see the full impact of her labor now, but she knew, with a fresh certainty, that in the Lord, it was never, ever in vain. She closed her Bible, a quiet strength settling over her, ready to continue abounding in the work of the Lord, one faithful step at a time.  She slowly knelt her tired weary body beside her bed and prayed: “Heavenly Father, I thank You for the truth of Your Word that reminds me that my labor in You is never in vain. Forgive me when I grow weary and allow discouragement to set in. Strengthen me, Lord, by Your Holy Spirit, to be stedfast and unmoveable, always abounding in Your work. Help me to trust in Your promise that in due season I shall reap, if I faint not. May my life be a testament to Your unfailing love and faithfulness. In Jesus' name, Amen.”Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/teaching-truth--6579438/support.

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