“Then He spoke a
parable to them,
that men always ought
to pray
and not lose heart.”
Luke 18:1 (NKJV)
“And let us not grow
weary while
doing good, for in
due season
we shall reap if we
do not lose heart.”
Galatians 6:9
(NKJV)
Things happen in our Christian walk that can easily make us
lose heart. We can become disheartened in many situation, such as seeing a
relationship we’ve been praying about go from bad to worse instead of better;
experiencing more defeat than victory in our efforts to die to self; watching
the increasing hostility towards God and rising anti-Semitism; even trying to
bear up in a seemingly unending winter.
Christ knew that life in this sin-infected world would not
be easy and He exhorts us to “pray and not lose heart.” The Apostle Paul similarly urges us not to
grow weary and lose heart but continue to do good. Why?
Because “in due season we shall reap.” God is faithful and we can trust
the Bible’s promises that this life is not all there is, that heaven awaits
those who have put their faith in Christ.
God hears and answers prayer according to His will; God
works all things out for our good according to His plan and in His timing. We can trust in that. Christ came the first
time in fulfillment of Scripture; He is sure to come again in fulfillment of
Scripture. Spring will eventually come
because God has ordered our seasons.
So we can press on, with hope and joy, because our
“redemption draws near.” (Luke 21:28, NKJV)
We can be strengthened through the power of the Holy Spirit in Christ,
enabling us to pray always and continue to do good without growing weary or
losing heart.