It was nearly ten years ago now that I first heard that phrase, “Lord of the harvest.” In fact, I sang those words in Gospel Choir at my church, boldly proclaiming God to be who He says He is in His Word. But then tonight, nearly ten years later, sitting at my kitchen table which is filled with clutter right now, completely surrounded by the mundane of daily life, not on stage leading worship before a congregation of people, just plugging away through the “to-do” list of my day, I find myself in Galatians chapter six. And once again, God has taken my breath away.
“For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:8-9
Can I tell you a bit about growing weary in doing good? This past year of my life has been good, but it has been equally hard. My husband and I tasted the deepest grief that we have yet to taste in this life, we both experienced the highest of mountain tops and resided in the lowest of valleys. We saw God move on our behalf in ways that can only be described as miraculous, and we’ve experienced the pain of waiting for Him to move. Ministry has been rich and effective. Countless testimonies of lives changed by God’s grace have poured in through email and text. God has been so present, and my heart has never been more full. But it has been hard, and there have been days when I’ve just about grown weary in doing good because the uphill climb is exhausting sometimes. Anybody?
But then God.
But then His Word.
But then His people.
All life-changing. All restoring. All filling. All spurring me on toward love and good deeds. There has been much sowing. Seed has been scattered again and again. I’ve prayed more than you know that the seed has fallen on good soil. I’ve seen many seeds take root, sprout, and grow. I’ve waited in eager expectation to see others do the same. I can continue to sow, as I should, and I can continue to water, as I should.
But God is the Lord of the Harvest. And in due time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
What promise is packed into those words! What hope! He simply calls me to press on, to endure, to not give up. And then will come the harvest! And it has come.
Two nights this week were filled with celebration and praise to God for all that He has done. Both groups of women who journeyed through the pages of Ephesians with me for the past few months met together, celebrated together, broke bread together in communion, and boasted on the goodness of God. We testified to all that He has done, and we praised Him for the transformation that He accomplished in and through us for the praise of His glory! New beginnings, first-time faith, healed marriages, addictions overcome, baptism, and more.
And what do you do when your heart is full? You don’t grow weary in doing good. You purpose to press on, to continue on because the journey isn’t over yet. Because the calling hasn’t expired. Because there is work still to be done. Because the harvest awaits those who don’t give up.
When your heart is full, allow the overflow to be praise—praise to the God who filled you, praise to the God who is able to keep you full, praise to the God who will complete the good work that He began in you, praise to the God who is able to sustain you when the road ahead seems long and hard. When your heart is full, praise His name and keep pressing on!
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