How do I keep going when I want to give up?
Galatians 6:9
9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
New International Version (NIV)
The answer
Keep going by looking to Jesus, receiving strength from God in prayer, and taking the next faithful step while leaving the harvest to Him. Galatians 6:9 gives both a command and a promise: “Let’s not be weary in doing good, for we will reap in due season if we don’t give up.”
Step 1: Fix your eyes on Jesus
- Remember His endurance: Hebrews 12:2 says Jesus endured the cross for the joy set before Him and is now seated at the right hand of God. Faithful endurance is not unfamiliar to Him.
- Consider Him when your soul grows faint: Hebrews 12:3 connects contemplating Christ’s endurance with not growing weary. Your hope rests on the reigning Saviour, not on circumstances immediately improving.
Step 2: Ask God for strength
- Admit your weakness honestly: Isaiah 40:29 says, “He gives power to the weak. He increases the strength of him who has no might.” Weariness becomes an occasion to depend on God rather than pretend to be self-sufficient.
- Wait for the Lord: Isaiah 40:31 promises that “those who wait for Yahweh will renew their strength.” Waiting is trusting His timing while continuing to seek Him.
- Keep praying: Jesus taught His disciples that they “must always pray and not give up” in Luke 18:1. Persistent prayer is part of perseverance.
Step 3: Lay aside hindrances and take the next step
- Remove what entangles you: Hebrews 12:1 calls believers to lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily entangles. Turn from known sin and identify responsibilities, distractions or expectations that are unnecessarily hindering obedience.
- Do the good in front of you: Galatians 6:10 directs believers to do good as they have opportunity. Take one manageable step: honest work, an encouraging conversation, practical help or another clear act of obedience.
- Sow to the Spirit: Galatians 6:8 contrasts sowing to the flesh with sowing to the Spirit. Choose the response that serves God rather than the reaction that merely gives immediate relief to the flesh.
Step 4: Trust God with the harvest
- Do not mistake delay for failure: Galatians 6:7-9 uses the rhythm of sowing and reaping: the harvest comes, but not necessarily immediately. God determines the due season; faithfulness means continuing to sow.
- Measure the present by obedience, not visible results: A seemingly unfruitful day can still contain genuine faithfulness. The command is to continue doing good without giving up.
When weariness returns
- Remember that human strength has limits: Isaiah 40:30 says that even young people faint and grow weary. The answer is not pretending to be strong but returning to the God who renews strength.
- Keep your confidence: Hebrews 10:35 says, “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.”
A promise to carry
When your labour seems unnoticed or fruitless, 1 Corinthians 15:58 declares: “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”
Answered from Scripture · reviewed November 11, 2026
Scripture never denies that weariness is real, nor does it treat the ache of exhaustion as a failure of faith. The Word of God meets us in our weakness to teach us that feeling like quitting is merely an impulse, while perseverance is God's assured pathway to a certain harvest. By laying aside unnecessary weights, fixing our gaze on Christ, and relying on His supernatural strength, we are equipped to stand firm until the appointed season.
Acknowledge the Struggle
Recognize Fatigue Without Letting It Rule You
And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.
2 Thessalonians 3:13 (NIV)
It commands believers not to grow weary in doing what is right, demonstrating that feeling fatigued is an impulse to resist rather than a command to obey.
Paul's charge in 2 Thessalonians 3:13 cuts directly across our instinctive reaction to exhaustion: "As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good." Scripture treats the desire to quit not as an unquestionable sovereign over your actions, but as an impulse to be brought captive to Christ. Walking in obedience often drains natural reserves, and the Bible never pretends this path is painless. Persisting in godly conduct carries profound spiritual weight; as 1 Peter 2:15 reminds us, doing right is God's specific instrument to silence the ignorant chatter of foolish men.
God does not despise our human limits. Isaiah 40:30 openly acknowledges that even youths grow faint and weary, and young men stumble exhausted; human vigor inevitably runs dry on its own. When our inner resources shatter, Psalms 73:26 grounds our hope, declaring that though flesh and heart fail, God Himself remains the rock of our heart and our eternal portion. You are not forsaken because you feel spent. Paul describes this tension in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, explaining that believers are afflicted, perplexed, and struck down, yet never crushed, despairing, or abandoned.
Consider Elijah in 1 Kings 19:4-8. Crushed by fear and spiritual exhaustion, the prophet fled into the desert, sat beneath a broom tree, and prayed that he might die. God did not rebuke him or cast him aside; instead, the Lord provided baked bread, fresh water, and deep sleep before sending him forward in divine strength. Recognizing exhaustion is not unbelief; it is the humble admission that leads us to lean entirely on our Maker.
| Passage | What it says |
|---|---|
| 2 Thessalonians 3:13 | Exhorts the church never to grow tired or faint in doing what is right and honorable. |
| 1 Peter 2:15 | Declares that persisting in well-doing is God's will to silence the ignorant accusations of foolish men. |
| Isaiah 40:30 | Acknowledges that even the young and vigorous grow exhausted, stumble, and faint under natural limitations. |
| Psalms 73:26 | Affirms that flesh and heart may fail, but God remains the strength of the heart and eternal portion. |
| 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 | Declares that believers are afflicted, perplexed, and struck down, yet never crushed, despairing, or destroyed. |
| 1 Kings 19:4-8 | Depicts Elijah collapsing in despair under a broom tree where God provides physical rest and miraculous nourishment. |
The Guaranteed Harvest
Anchor Your Heart in God's Appointed Season
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)
This central promise assures us that reaping is guaranteed in God's proper time provided we do not succumb to giving up.
The bedrock promise of Galatians 6:9 speaks directly to the soul tempted to surrender: "Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." God anchors your endurance in an unalterable spiritual law: the harvest is absolute, but it belongs strictly to God's timetable. Because of Christ's resurrection, 1 Corinthians 15:58 calls us to remain steadfast and unmovable, knowing that our toil in the Lord is never futile or wasted. Nothing invested in Christ can ever end in genuine loss.
When the wait feels unbearable, Hebrews 10:35-36 warns us never to fling away our confidence, which carries a great reward. Endurance is required so that after doing the will of God, we may receive what He promised. The passage continues in Hebrews 10:37-39, reminding us that He who is coming will not delay; the righteous live by faith, refusing to shrink back to destruction. Our call is that of the patient farmer described in James 5:7-8, who waits for the precious fruit of the earth through early and late rains, establishing his heart because the Lord's return is near.
Present weariness is temporary when measured against eternity. Paul weighs reality in Romans 8:18, concluding that our current sufferings are entirely unworthy of comparison with the radiant glory soon to be revealed. In Revelation 2:10, Jesus comforts His persecuted people with the ultimate finish line: remain faithful even unto death, and He will bestow the crown of life. The harvest is sure.
| Passage | What it says |
|---|---|
| Galatians 6:9 | Promises a harvest in due season for those who do not lose heart in doing good. |
| 1 Corinthians 15:58 | Urges steadfastness because our labour in the Lord is never empty or in vain. |
| Hebrews 10:35-36 | Commands believers not to discard their confidence, calling for endurance to receive what was promised. |
| Hebrews 10:37-39 | Warns against shrinking back to destruction, affirming that the righteous live by faith unto preservation. |
| James 5:7-8 | Exhorts believers to be patient like a farmer waiting for precious fruit, establishing their hearts for the Lord's coming. |
| Romans 8:18 | Considers present sufferings unworthy to be compared with the future glory that will be revealed in believers. |
| Revelation 2:10 | Promises the crown of life to those who remain faithful unto death through testing and tribulation. |
Stripping Away Hindrances
Cast Off Weights and Run with Endurance
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,
Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)
It tells the believer to strip away every encumbering weight and entangling sin to run the assigned race with perseverance.
The author of Hebrews 12:1 commands us to look squarely at how we are running: "Let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us." Fatigue often stems not from the course God designed, but from the surplus weight we needlessly carry. An encumbering burden is not always deliberate sin; it can be legitimate duties turned into idols, worldly anxieties, or the paralyzing expectations of others. Where sin does cling, it must be decisively severed so our stride remains unimpeded.
Sometimes the weariness we experience is the purifying hand of our Father. Hebrews 12:5 instructs us neither to despise the Lord's discipline nor to faint when corrected by Him, for correction is the proof of sonship. When anxiety threatens to buckle our knees, Psalms 55:22 provides the antidote: cast your burden upon the Lord, and He will sustain you, never permitting the righteous to be shaken. You were never designed to shoulder the weight of self-preservation.
Peter reiterates this lifeline in 1 Peter 5:7, urging us to cast all our anxieties upon God precisely because He cares for us. We cannot press forward while clutching yesterday's failures or tomorrow's dread. As Paul demonstrates in Philippians 3:13-14, endurance requires forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, pressing relentlessly toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Drop the weight, and run.
| Passage | What it says |
|---|---|
| Hebrews 12:1 | Calls us to strip off every burden and clinging sin to run the race with perseverance. |
| Hebrews 12:5 | Reminds believers not to despise the Lord's discipline nor lose heart when corrected as beloved children. |
| Psalms 55:22 | Commands believers to cast their burdens on the Lord, who will sustain them and never let the righteous fall. |
| 1 Peter 5:7 | Directs believers to cast all anxieties upon God because He genuinely cares for them. |
| Philippians 3:13-14 | Urges forgetting what lies behind and straining forward toward the goal for the prize of God's upward call. |
Looking to Christ
Fix Your Eyes on the One Who Endured
Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Hebrews 12:3 (NIV)
It commands us to consider Jesus' suffering under hostile opposition so our souls will not grow weary or faint.
To keep from quitting, our minds must be anchored in Christ Himself. Hebrews 12:3 delivers the supreme directive: "Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted." When we measure our small trials against His supreme endurance, fainting souls find renewed fortitude. As Hebrews 12:2 explains, Jesus looked past the agony of the cross and despised its public shame for the joy set before Him, ultimately sitting down in triumphant vindication at the right hand of God's throne.
Our Savior does not merely summon us from afar; He welcomes us into His rest. In Matthew 11:28-30, Christ issues His gentle invitation to all who labor and are heavy laden, promising rest for our souls through His easy yoke and light burden. We do not struggle under an aloof deity. According to Hebrews 4:15-16, our High Priest sympathizes completely with our weaknesses, having been tested in all points as we are, yet without sin; therefore, we can draw near to the throne of grace with bold confidence to receive mercy and find timely help.
Peter echoes this pathway in 1 Peter 2:21-24, showing that Christ suffered for us, leaving an unmistakable pattern to follow in His steps. When He was reviled, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He uttered no threats, but entrusted Himself entirely to Him who judges justly. By gazing upon the One who bore our sins upon the tree, we find both the pattern and the power to endure.
| Passage | What it says |
|---|---|
| Hebrews 12:2 | Points us to Jesus, who endured the cross and despised shame for the joy set before Him. |
| Hebrews 12:3 | Instructs us to meditate on Christ's endurance under hostile sinners to prevent soul-exhaustion. |
| Matthew 11:28-30 | Christ calls all who labor and are heavy laden to come to Him for rest and a gentle yoke. |
| Hebrews 4:15-16 | Presents our sympathetic High Priest, inviting confident access to the throne of grace for timely help. |
| 1 Peter 2:21-24 | Reminds believers that Christ suffered for them, leaving an example to follow His steps without reviling in return. |
Persevering in Grace
Draw Strength Through Constant Prayer and Waiting
but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)
It reveals that waiting upon the Lord renews strength, enabling the weary to run without fainting.
When exhaustion drains every earthly resource, waiting upon the Lord exchanges our finite stamina for divine strength. The prophet declares in Isaiah 40:31 that those who tarry for God will mount up with wings like eagles, running without wearying and walking without growing faint. This endurance is not self-generated optimism; it is the miraculous result of sustained communion with God. Jesus underscored this necessity in Luke 18:1, teaching His disciples that they ought always to pray and not lose heart, revealing that persistent intercession is the direct antidote to spiritual collapse.
Scripture repeatedly links endurance with continuous supplication. Paul urges believers in Romans 12:12 to rejoice in hope, remain patient in tribulation, and be constant in prayer. In Ephesians 6:18, prayer in the Spirit with all perseverance is commanded as an essential piece of spiritual armor, while Colossians 4:2 instructs us to continue steadfastly in prayer with thanksgiving. When our own capacities fail, Christ assures us in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 that His grace is sufficient and His power is perfected in human weakness, prompting us to boast in our limitations rather than despair over them.
Rather than carrying anxieties until we crumble, Philippians 4:6-7 bids us bring every petition to God with thanksgiving, securing a divine peace that guards both heart and mind. Anchored in this reality, the believer can declare with Philippians 4:13 the ability to endure all things through Christ who infuses strength. Even amidst profound grief and ruin, Lamentations 3:21-24 reminds our trembling souls that the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases and His compassions are new every morning. Great is His faithfulness to the soul that seeks Him.
| Passage | What it says |
|---|---|
| Isaiah 40:31 | Declares that those who wait upon the Lord will renew strength and walk without growing faint. |
| Luke 18:1 | Teaches the essential necessity to pray consistently and not lose heart or faint. |
| Romans 12:12 | Commands rejoicing in hope, patience under tribulation, and steadfast devotion to continuous prayer. |
| Ephesians 6:18 | Urges constant, Spirit-led praying with watchfulness and perseverance for all the saints. |
| Colossians 4:2 | Instructs believers to devote themselves to prayer with watchful vigilance and thanksgiving. |
| 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 | Records Christ's promise that His grace is sufficient, making His power perfect in human weakness. |
| Philippians 4:6-7 | Instructs making requests known with thanksgiving, promising God's peace will guard hearts and minds in Christ. |
| Philippians 4:13 | Proclaims the ability to endure and do all things through Christ who strengthens the believer. |
| Lamentations 3:21-24 | Recalls God's steadfast love and mercies, which are new every morning, establishing hope in the Lord. |
The Community of Faith
Lean on the Body of Christ When You Falter
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV)
It shows that corporate gathering and mutual exhortation are God's chosen means to prevent abandonment of the faith.
God never designed the pilgrim walk to be traversed in isolation. The author of Hebrews commands us in Hebrews 10:24-25 to consider how to stir up one another to love and good deeds, warning against neglecting our gathered assembly and urging believers to encourage one another daily as the Day approaches. When a Christian is tempted to surrender, the gathered body of Christ provides the tangible presence, voice, and intercession needed to keep standing against despair.
Long before the New Covenant church was formed, Solomon articulated this creation principle in Ecclesiastes 4:9-12: two are better than one because they have a good reward for their toil, and woe falls on anyone who is alone when they stumble. A threefold cord is not quickly broken, demonstrating that shared burdens dilute crushing despair. In the same spirit, Galatians 6:2 instructs us to bear one another's burdens, explicitly stating that lifting the loads of our fainting brethren fulfills the law of Christ.
Paul reiterates this corporate responsibility in 1 Thessalonians 5:11, charging believers to continually encourage and build up one another. Weariness often whispers the lie that we are solitary in the fight, but God places us into a spiritual family precisely so that when one member falters, surrounding brothers and sisters offer upholding hands, Scripture, and prayer until strength returns.
| Passage | What it says |
|---|---|
| Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 | Emphasizes that two are better than one, warning of woe to him who is alone when he falls. |
| Hebrews 10:24-25 | Commands believers to stir up one another to love and good deeds and not neglect meeting together. |
| Galatians 6:2 | Directs believers to bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ. |
| 1 Thessalonians 5:11 | Charges believers to encourage one another and build each other up, just as they are doing. |
Where in the Bible
| Book | Passages |
|---|---|
| 1 Kings | 1 · 1 Kings 19:4-8 |
| Psalms | 2 · Psalms 73:26, Psalms 55:22 |
| Ecclesiastes | 1 · Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 |
| Isaiah | 2 · Isaiah 40:30, Isaiah 40:31 |
| Lamentations | 1 · Lamentations 3:21-24 |
| Matthew | 1 · Matthew 11:28-30 |
| Luke | 1 · Luke 18:1 |
| Romans | 2 · Romans 8:18, Romans 12:12 |
| 1 Corinthians | 1 · 1 Corinthians 15:58 |
| 2 Corinthians | 2 · 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 |
| Galatians | 2 · Galatians 6:9, Galatians 6:2 |
| Ephesians | 1 · Ephesians 6:18 |
| Philippians | 3 · Philippians 3:13-14, Philippians 4:6-7, Philippians 4:13 |
| Colossians | 1 · Colossians 4:2 |
| 1 Thessalonians | 1 · 1 Thessalonians 5:11 |
| 2 Thessalonians | 1 · 2 Thessalonians 3:13 |
| Hebrews | 8 · Hebrews 10:35-36, Hebrews 10:37-39, Hebrews 12:1, Hebrews 12:5, Hebrews 12:2, Hebrews 12:3, Hebrews 4:15-16, Hebrews 10:24-25 |
| James | 1 · James 5:7-8 |
| 1 Peter | 3 · 1 Peter 2:15, 1 Peter 5:7, 1 Peter 2:21-24 |
| Revelation | 1 · Revelation 2:10 |
The story in order
- Creation and Fall (c. 4000 BC) · Genesis 3 · Introduces sin and its consequences, including hardship and weariness.
- Elijah's Despair (c. 875 BC) · 1 Kings 19:4-8 · Shows God's provision for His servant in deep exhaustion and despair.
- Prophetic Encouragement (c. 710 BC) · Isaiah 40:30-31 · Promises renewal of strength for those who wait on the Lord.
- Jesus' Ministry Begins (c. AD 28) · Matthew 11:28-30 · Christ invites the weary to find rest in Him.
- Jesus Endures the Cross (AD 30-33) · Hebrews 12:2-3 · Jesus' example of enduring suffering for the joy set before Him.
- Apostolic Teaching on Endurance (c. AD 55) · 1 Corinthians 15:58 · Urges steadfastness in the Lord's work, assuring it's not in vain.
- Perseverance in Faith (c. AD 65) · Hebrews 10:35-36 · Calls for endurance to receive God's promises.
- Community Support (c. AD 65) · Hebrews 10:24-25 · Exhorts believers to encourage one another and meet together.
- Running the Race (c. AD 65) · Hebrews 12:1 · Encourages shedding weights to run the Christian race with perseverance.
- Faithful Witness (c. AD 95) · Revelation 2:10 · Promises the crown of life to those faithful unto death.
The Farmer's Patience and God's Harvest
| Farmer's Action | God's Promise | Passage |
|---|---|---|
| Be patient | Wait for the precious fruit | James 5:7 |
| Do not lose heart | Harvest in due season | Galatians 6:9 |
| Establish your hearts | The Lord's coming | James 5:8 |
Human Weakness and Divine Strength
| Human Condition | Divine Provision | Passage |
|---|---|---|
| Young and vigorous grow exhausted | Renew strength | Isaiah 40:30-31 |
| Flesh and heart may fail | Strength of heart and portion | Psalms 73:26 |
| Afflicted, perplexed, struck down | Not crushed, despairing, destroyed | 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 |
| Weakness | Christ's power is perfect | 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 |
| Can do all things | Through Christ who strengthens | Philippians 4:13 |
Running the Race of Faith
| Action | Goal | Passage |
|---|---|---|
| Strip off every weight and sin | Run with perseverance | Hebrews 12:1 |
| Forget what is behind | Strain forward toward the goal | Philippians 3:13 |
| Fix eyes on Jesus | Endured the cross for the joy set before Him | Hebrews 12:2 |
| Do not lose heart | Receive what was promised | Hebrews 10:36 |
Key words
- Weariness
- A state of extreme tiredness, often accompanied by a desire to quit. · Isaiah 40:30
- Perseverance
- Steadfastness and persistence in doing good, especially in the face of hardship. · Hebrews 10:36
- Harvest
- The reward or outcome of faithful endurance and labor in due season. · Galatians 6:9
- Weights
- Hindrances, burdens, or sins that impede spiritual progress and endurance. · Hebrews 12:1
- Endurance
- The ability to withstand hardship and continue steadfastly, exemplified by Christ. · Hebrews 12:2
- Strength
- Divine power and ability provided by God to overcome weakness and exhaustion. · Isaiah 40:31
- Faith
- Trust and reliance on God, enabling one to live and persevere through trials. · Hebrews 10:39
Your exhaustion does not have the final word; the faithful God who began this good work will carry you through to its completion. Turn your eyes from your own frailty and fix them entirely on Christ, who endured the cross for the joy set before Him. Lay down every extra burden, rest in His unfailing promises, and keep planting in hope—your labour in the Lord is never in vain.
36 passages, each cited once.
Scripture cited
- Galatians 6:9
- 1 Corinthians 15:58
- Hebrews 10:35-39
- Hebrews 12:3
- Galatians 6:7-10
- Hebrews 12:1-3
- Isaiah 40:28-31
- Luke 18:1-8