The passage I’m hovering over this morning is well known and well understood. It contains a familiar law of the harvest — “whatever one sows, that will he also reap” (Gal. 6:7b). True when it comes to gardening in the spring, true as well when it comes to growing in our salvation. If we sow to the flesh, from the flesh we’ll reap corruption. But if we sow to the Spirit, from the Spirit we’ll reap eternal life (Gal. 6:8). Pretty simple, really. Not too hard to grasp. A good principle to be aware of.

But this morning I’m chewing on the other law of the harvest in this passage, the one in the shadow, perhaps the lesser remembered one.

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)

Weary. If I had a dollar for every time I have used that word, or heard someone else use that word over the past few months, it would sure help with paying to fuel up my vehicle. At least in my circles, many of us emerging from the last couple of years are feeling weary.

Faint. Exhausted. Utterly spiritless, says my Greek lexicon. True of those shepherding the flock — a recent Barna survey indicates a sharp rise in pastor’s who have given serious consideration to quitting full-time ministry (42%) — true of those in the flock who just wanna be faithful.

But this law of the harvest says, don’t give up. For in due season we will reap. That, my friends, is a promise to claim!

We will reap. We will reap eternal life. This season will give way to a due season, and then we’ll have no doubt that it’s been worth it all.

It’s not a promise that things will get easier or less confusing. Not a promise that we’re through the worst. But a promise that, regardless of what the next season brings, the best season is yet to come. So don’t give up.

As with any of God’s promises, “the righteous shall live by faith” (Gal. 3:11). We believe the promise and so we combat the weariness. But not alone. Our weariness compels us to RSVP, “Yes,” to the Savior’s invitation to “Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest”. To take His yoke, to learn from the One who tells us He is “gentle and lowly in heart.” To find that His yoke is easy, and His burden is light (Matt. 11:28). And in doing so, we’ll find we really can do all things through Him who strengthens us (Php. 4:13), His power made perfect in our weariness (2Cor. 12:9). Aware of, and motivated by this law of the harvest, in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

So, we’ll keep on keepin’ on.

By His grace. For His glory.