“Let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”Galatians 6:9 (NLT)
Don’t ever give up on the dream God has given you.
If anybody had the right to be discouraged because God’s plan took so long, it was Noah. It took at least 80 years to build the ark. The Bible tells us that Noah got in the ark and closed the door 120 years after God told him to build it.
Would you be able to maintain enthusiasm for a project that took you 120 years, when everyone else criticized and made fun of you for it? Could you handle that kind of opposition?
The reason why most people don't succeed in life is short-term thinking. They give up too soon. They don't sustain their dream over the long haul. It's often in the middle of your life that you want to give up, and it determines whether you're going to end successfully or not.
Don’t give up!
Culture says live only for today. The Bible says instead to think about eternity. Everything about God’s dream takes longer than you think—not because God wants to make it harder on you but because he has eternity in mind. He is working with an eternal mindset, and he wants you to think that way too.
I'm sure Noah faced loneliness and fatigue over how long it was taking to reach his goal. And yet he is a model of patience and persistence. Why? Because of his faith in God. Hebrews 11:7 says that Noah did all this by faith.
For 42,001 days, Noah had one goal: fulfill his destiny. I bet on many of those 42,001 days, Noah didn't feel like going to work.
What is it in your life that God has told you is going to happen, but the end is not in sight—or even the next step? Are you going to give up? Are you going to keep trusting?
Galatians 6:9 says, “Let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up” (NLT).
In our broken culture, God is looking for people who will choose righteousness, who will trust him, obey him, ignore the critics, go the opposite way culture is going, and persevere until the end.
Rick Warren is an innovative pastor, renowned author, and global influencer known for founding Saddleback Church, the Purpose Driven Network, the PEACE Plan, and Hope for Mental Health. He has written several best-selling books, including The Purpose Driven Life, which has sold over 35 million copies in 200 languages. Time magazine named Warren the most influential spiritual leader in America and one of the 100 most influential people in the world. Since stepping down from the lead pastor role at Saddleback in 2022, Warren has continued to inspire people through his Daily Hope Devotional and podcast Pastor Rick’s Daily Hope. His first book in a decade, Created to Dream, was released in April 2023.
For more Daily Hope with Rick Warren, please visit pastorrick.com!
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