And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9, ESV
A couple of months ago, I bought a plant for my desk. I had high hopes that it would grow and add some life to my classroom. However, I quickly realized that taking care of it was a little bit more complex. Besides watering it daily, I learned that the soil is only good for three months. So when the time came, I bought new planting soil and proceeded to change it. The following week, my students noticed that the plant was starting to turn brown, losing its beautiful colors. After three weeks with no change, I gave up and decided to relocate the plant to the trash. But as my sad little plant lay there in the trash can, I noticed something growing beneath the surface in the soil. To my surprise, it was a new plant sprouting! I couldn’t believe my eyes. With an entirely different perspective, I pulled it out of the trash can and set it back on my desk.
This experience reminded me of Galatians 6:9, “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”
As educators, we plant seeds in our students’ lives and (most of the time) never see the full bloom or even the sprout. We all know how discouraging this can feel at times. But today, I want to encourage you to not give up. Instead, rest and trust in God’s timing. He can and will complete the work he began in our students. His gift to us is to continue faithfully planting and watering the seeds.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that we can trust Your timing. Give us strength to persevere during seasons when we do not see sprouts. Help us not give up. Amen.
Copyright Dr. Heather Hewitt.
Dr. Hewitt is an adjunct instructor for the School of Education at Liberty University.
