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Every week I meet with the women who’ve come through my coaching progression and we always end in the same way:
"Okay. What are we gonna say about all this?"
We’re looking at the week ahead, but “all this” could mean:
- a business decision
- a relationship
- something scary they’re about to do
- something that didn’t go the way they hoped
- or just…Tuesday. 😂
Because FOUNDATIONAL to pretty much everything I believe about how we live our best lives is this:
Pay attention to what you’re saying about you and your life. 🌱
And last week we talked about using Galatians 6:9:
Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not give up.
This was the scripture we wanted to stand on.
There was just one problem, though.
“I am weary.”
Yeppers.
Fair.
There were nods all around.
And not to go on a rant–but what is going on?
Everyone I know is tired right now–me included.
I’m ready for the endless Texas summer to relent a bit.
I’m ready for…
I’ll stop there.
(I’m paying attention to what I say about my life)
I want to pause a second and say–Galatians is there, yes, to correct us, but let’s let go of the scoldy voice doing so.
Don’t grow weary doesn’t mean you won’t feel weary.
In fact there’d be no need to say it if it wasn’t certain we would.
The AMPC version says it like this:
And let us not
lose heart and
grow weary and
faint
(Hmmm. Kinda wanted to. Okay, so...I’m NOT gonna lose heart and will only faint jokingly to bring some plucky comic relief…)
in acting nobly and doing right,
(Okay. I like those words better. Doing good seems tiring. But acting nobly and doing right–I want to be the person who does that…)
for in due time and at the
appointed season
we shall reap,
(Now let’s just stop a minute. That’s WAY better language.)
That other translation had it like this:
You’ll reap if you don’t give up.
(Well, Mr. Bible translator. There’s an excellent chance I will, in fact, give up. I have been wanting to for a while now. So why even read that first part carefully? Does it even apply?)
Back to that last part.
WE SHALL REAP.
That’s a strong statement.
THAT I want to remind myself of and hold onto.
Okay. Yes. There’s a condition:
If we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint.
Hmm.
This translation helps me.
The other one says don’t give up or quit. And this is saying the same thing but the WAY it says it actually DOES encourage me.
If I don’t loosen and relax my courage.
It takes courage to not quit?
I think I had always assumed that verse meant willpower. Frankly if it’s dependent on willpower, I might be sunk.
I want to be a person of courage. So, okay. I’ll keep going.
It says:
I shall reap if I don’t relax my courage and faint.
That’s different.
- Maybe I’ve been doing some good stuff for a long time and I’m tired.
- Maybe I’ve been showing up and don’t see much happening.
- Maybe I’m disappointed.
Those things can be true.
But there’s a big difference between,
“I don’t see the fruit yet.”
And
“Nothing I do ever works.”
One is talking about a current situation and what can be seen.
The other is a pronouncement. A conclusion. Really, a prophecy. 😬
I’ll give an example that’s recent and from my own life. 🤦🏻♀️
I was teaching a couple months back and we were talking about these scriptures–
He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper. (Psalm 1:3)
And WHILE I was teaching, the Lord reminded me of these gems, some of which I’ve been saying for years:
No diet ever works for me. I’ve tried everything and it just doesn’t seem to make a difference in my weight.
I get to do the coolest work–it’s impactful and I know it’s strong, but I feel like a ninja–like I do it in secret and nobody sees!
(Let me be clear. I don’t care about being seen. I very much care about helping people and want the work I do to have impact and grow.)
Hmmm.
Well, first.
Thanks, Lord, for correcting me.
I was letting past experiences dictate what I was saying instead of standing on God’s Word.
Noted.
Since then, I have been saying this on purpose:
What I do works.
That isn’t a revolutionary idea.
In fact, we understand this everywhere else.
What we do repeatedly and habitually works.
I worked out today, and it FELT like that SHOULD have been sufficient for the rest of my natural life. 🏋🏽♀️😅
Apparently not.
If I want to stay strong, I have to keep doing the things that make me strong. 🏋🏽♀️
For the rest of my life. 🏋🏽♀️🏋🏽♀️ 🏋🏽♀️ 🏋🏽♀️ 🏋🏽♀️🏋🏽♀️🏋🏽♀️...
If I want good relationships, I have to check my own intentions and expectations and be genuinely loving and forgiving. 😍
If I want a clean house, I have to clean my house. 🧹
If I want to walk with the Lord, I need to seek Him. To heed what He has said in the Bible. To obey what I find there. 📖🙏🏻
What I do works.
And if what I do is on the negative side:
Be mad all the time.
Look at everything wrong and complain.
Assume the worst.
Just generally be a not-nice person.
(And I’m sowing to the Spirit here by not using spicier language!)
What I do there works, too.
So–back to where we started.
How do we claim that promise above when we are in fact feeling weary and wanting to give up, but still wanting to lay claim to the whole “I shall reap” thing?
Here’s what we decided we’re gonna say:
- I refuse to get tired of doing the right thing, because what I do works and it’s going to bear fruit at exactly the right time. I will gain all the benefits and reap all the rewards of the good that I’m doing, even when nobody sees but me and the Lord.
- What I do works. I prosper in everything I set my hand to do.
And yeah. We’ll say this about our life. Out loud.
So.
What have you been saying about your life lately?
Maybe you really are tired.
Maybe something really hasn't worked yet.
Maybe the thing you're building really isn't getting the response you hoped for.
We don't have to lie about any of that.
But listen for the conclusion you've attached to it.
Nothing ever works for me.
I'm just not good at this.
This is always how it goes.
Nobody cares.
It's too late for me.
Because that's a different thing.
So...
What are we gonna say about all this?
Oh–and
P.S. The Stuck Pattern Finder is actually really good at helping you zero in on what you might be saying to yourself without even realizing it—and giving you truth from God's Word to challenge the conclusions you've drawn. If you haven't taken it yet, you can do that here. ❤️
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