Don’t Quit the Garden

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” — Galatians 6:9 (NIV)

Doing good sounds simple—until it’s not. It’s easy to start strong: to show up, speak out, lend a hand. But over time, the weight of injustice, indifference, and slow change can wear us down. Paul’s words in Galatians 6:9 are not just encouragement—they’re a lifeline for those who are tired from sowing righteousness in rocky soil.

Paul’s exhortation sits within a larger framework of sowing and reaping. “A man reaps what he sows” (v.7b) is both a warning and a promise. To sow to please the Spirit is to invest in what is good, just, and life-giving. But sowing is slow work. It requires patience, persistence, and faith that the harvest will come.

As anyone who’s tended a garden knows, it’s hard work when done right. We prepare the ground—not only breaking the earth but enriching it with nutrients and care. Then comes the planting, watering, and tending. And the weeding—oh, the weeding—is relentless. Weeds don’t wait for permission; they push through persistently, demanding our attention and energy. We return again and again, not because the garden is failing, but because growth requires vigilance.

Paul knew the toll of doing good in a world resistant to grace. And so do we. Whether advocating for justice, caring for the vulnerable, strengthening our congregations, or simply choosing kindness in a culture of cynicism, the path of righteousness can be exhausting. That’s why Paul says, “Do not grow weary.” Not because weariness is sinful, but because it’s inevitable—and we need reminding that our labor is not in vain.

John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement, once said: "Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can." It’s a beautiful charge—but also a daunting one. Wesley’s words echo Paul’s call to endurance. Doing good is not a one-time act; it’s a lifelong sowing.

If you’re tired today—tired of caring, tired of speaking up, tired of hoping—know this: God sees your sowing. The Spirit strengthens your steps. The harvest may be hidden, but it is not forgotten.

Justice work, pastoral care, community building, and growing your congregation—these are long roads. They require more than passion; they require perseverance. So take a breath. Rest if you must. But do not give up. Your faithfulness is planting seeds that will bloom in God’s time.

Ask yourself:

• Where am I tempted to give up?

• What “good” feels too heavy to carry today?

• Who can I encourage in their sowing?

Let this be a day not of retreat, but of renewal.

Lord, when we grow weary in doing good, remind us of the harvest. Strengthen our hands, steady our hearts, and renew our hope. May we sow righteousness with joy, even when the soil is hard. And may we trust that in your time, the fruit will come. Amen.

Peace & Grace,

Pastor Tim