The Secret to Courage in Delayed Seasons Wait on the Lord—three words that are easy to say but hard to live. When answers seem distant and change feels impossible, Psalm 27:14 reminds us that waiting is not weakness—it’s a weapon of spiritual strength and courage. Scripture Reading “Wait on the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait on the Lord.”— Psalm 27:14 (NIV) 1. Wait on the Lord with Strength The Psalmist doesn’t just say wait—he says to wait with strength. The Hebrew word for “wait” (qavah) carries the sense of expectation, like a rope being stretched but not broken. - Not passive waiting – It’s active, hopeful, trusting - Not weak delay – It’s choosing strength over panic - Not giving up – It’s digging in deeper (Isaiah 40:31) To wait on the Lord means you choose to trust God’s timing over your timeline. 2. Wait on the Lord with Courage “Be strong and take heart…” David had enemies surrounding him, fear pressing in, and battles all around—but instead of rushing to fix everything, he leaned into courageous waiting. Why? Because courage doesn’t mean the absence of fear—it means choosing faith in the middle of it. The courage to wait is rooted in: - God’s past faithfulness (Psalm 27:1-3) - God’s present nearness (Psalm 34:18) - God’s future victory (Romans 8:28) 3. Why Wait on the Lord? You can wait on people and be disappointed. You can wait on circumstances and stay frustrated. But when you wait on the Lord, you wait on the One who is: - All-knowing – His timing is perfect (Ecclesiastes 3:11) - All-powerful – He can move mountains (Mark 11:23) - Always good – He works for your good (Romans 8:28) Psalm 130:5 says, “I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in His word I put my hope.” That kind of waiting reshapes your heart. Practicing the Art of Waiting When impatience rises: - Pause and Pray – Invite God into your restless thoughts - Remember His Promises – Write down key Scriptures to declare - Reflect on His Goodness – Rehearse your testimony - Worship While You Wait – Let praise replace pressure

Have you ever felt like you’re pouring your heart into something good, but the results just aren’t showing up? Maybe you’ve prayed for years without seeing change, served faithfully without anyone noticing, or tried to live right while watching others cut corners and succeed. That’s when Paul’s words in Galatians 6:9 hit home: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (NIV) Paul knew how exhausting it can be to keep walking in faith when the harvest feels invisible. When Weariness Creeps In The original word for “weary” literally means to lose heart, to faint, or even to abandon your post. Isn’t that exactly how it feels sometimes? The triggers are familiar: - Planting but not seeing growth - Giving without getting thanks - Doing right while others seem to prosper doing wrong It’s tempting to think, “Why bother?” But notice Paul doesn’t tell us to strive harder or please everyone. “Doing good” isn’t about perfectionism, people-pleasing, or burning out. It’s about simple, Spirit-led faithfulness: - Showing up in the small, everyday obedience - Loving people who are hard to love - Choosing integrity when nobody is watching That’s the kind of “good” that pleases God. Here’s the hope: God guarantees a harvest. - The timing: it will be at the proper time - The outcome: we will reap - The condition: if we don’t give up Think about the parallels: - A parent praying for their child year after year - An employee standing for what’s right in a tough workplace - A believer quietly living as a light among their friends None of that is wasted. How to Keep Going Without Burning Out - Redefine success: measure faithfulness, not visible outcomes. Celebrate even the small steps. - Rest well: build Sabbath rhythms into your life. Let Jesus’ invitation in Matthew 11:28–30 set your pace. - Remind yourself of God’s faithfulness: journal, post verses where you’ll see them, revisit answered prayers. - Find community: we’re called to carry each other’s burdens (Galatians 6:2). Don’t run this race alone.

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” (John 15:18–19, NIV) Jesus doesn’t sugarcoat discipleship. He tells us plainly: following Him will make us stand out, and sometimes that means standing against the values of the world. Hatred isn’t something we seek, but it can be the result of living for Christ in a culture that rejects Him. Why does this happen? Because Jesus has chosen us out of the world. Our priorities, values, and identity no longer align with the systems of pride, selfishness, and sin. Light naturally exposes darkness, and darkness resists exposure. But here’s the encouragement: being hated for Christ’s sake is a reminder that we belong to Him. We are not rejected because we are worthless, but because we are His. That rejection is, in fact, confirmation of adoption. Don’t be discouraged when opposition comes. Instead, remember that the One who was hated first also overcame—and He calls us into His victory.

Acts 20:22-24 (NIV®) Compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. Paul’s words in Acts 20 remind us what Spirit-fueled perseverance looks like. He walked into the unknown—aware that hardship awaited—but never wavered from his mission. His strength wasn’t rooted in comfort or safety, but in the sustaining power of God. Each trial only deepened his resolve to testify to the good news of grace. Like Paul, we too will face challenges. The possibility of resistance, criticism, or suffering shouldn’t cause us to shrink back—it should embolden us. If we know difficulties are inevitable, we can choose to stand firmer, leaning on the Spirit’s power. Faith isn’t measured by how smooth the journey is but by how steadfast we remain when tested. Let’s aim, as Paul did, not to protect our lives above all but to finish the race, complete the task, and live as relentless advocates for Jesus Christ.

“Do not grow weary”—three words that breathe life into tired hearts. Paul knew how easy it is to lose momentum when the fruit of our efforts feels hidden. In Galatians 6:9 he reminds us, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Spiritual weariness is real. The Greek word for “weary” means to lose heart, to faint, or even to abandon one’s post. We often feel this when prayers seem unanswered, when acts of love go unnoticed, or when it looks like those doing wrong are prospering. Yet Paul calls us to keep sowing faithfully, trusting that God’s timing is perfect. “Doing good” doesn’t mean perfection or people-pleasing—it’s about Spirit-led faithfulness, costly love, and quiet integrity. God promises a harvest, not immediately, but certainly, if we don’t quit. Think of a parent praying for a wayward child, a worker holding to honesty in a corrupt workplace, or a believer consistently sharing Christ in small ways. The call is simple: stay faithful. Rest when you need to, lean on others for encouragement, but don’t give up. Your harvest is coming—in God’s time. Reflection: Where is God asking me to keep sowing, even when I’m weary?