"And let us not be weary in well doing:  for in due
 season we shall reap, if we faint not."  - Galatians 6:9

Let's face it, sometimes it gets frustrating.  You teach Sunday school week after week,  month after month, year after year...and no one seems to appreciate it.  Or, you witness to that person you so desperately want to see saved and they just continue to reject the Lord.   Maybe you send someone a card of encouragement, drop some groceries off on the doorstep of a needy neighbor or do any of a thousand "behind the scenes" things and no one seems to notice.

It's not that you want praise or credit...that belongs to Christ, but it would be nice to see some fruit or be appreciated for your efforts.  And you began to question, "Why is it when I do something wrong that others are quick to criticize and complain, but when I do something right no one says a word?"

That's what happened to me a couple of years ago.  I'll share the story with you, just so I can share with you what the Lord said to me.

I had been away with our youth at a youth conference and was really fired up.  We had the privilege of seeing a young girl in our group give her life to Christ, had experienced a real outpouring of the Holy Spirit at the conference and had been challenged to a closer walk with the Lord ourselves.  We were so pumped up  about the trip that instead of driving to the church to drop everyone off, we drove straight to our pastors house to tell him the exciting news.  When we arrived, we saw several cars at his house and remembered that they were having a fellowship that night.  Great!  We can share the exciting news with the whole gang!

We walked in the door and the first words spoken to us were, "You came in the wrong door.  Don't you know you're supposed to use the back door?"  That stung a little, but we were so excited and began to share the news.  Someone drug me into the kitchen and asked, "Didn't she get saved before?  She has a history of just getting emotional and nothing really happens."  The smile began to leave my face.  "All I know is that she says she repents of her sins..." I think to myself.  The excitement begins to drain a little, but I am still moderately enthusiastic and begin to share again with the group.  Someone changes the subject and starts a conversation about the fun they had on a jet ski.  One thing lead to another and the more we tried to share our excitement, the more the rest of those that were there said and did things that were discouraging.

A wet blanket had just been thrown on our "fire."  I drove the young people home in relative silence, flashed a fake smile and tried to encourage them again.

When I got home that I night I was so discouraged.  I began to question God.  "Lord, I just don't understand it.  We came back so excited and everyone seemed to say something that was discouraging.  They just didn't seem to be interested in anything we had to say.  Someone got saved, God, and no one there was rejoicing about it.  We tried to tell them about meeting with You, but they just wanted to talk about going to the lake.  I just don't understand it.  We came home and no one rejoiced with us or encouraged us."

I'll never forget what the Lord told me that night..."You're not home yet, son."

Christian, don't grow weary in well doing down here, because one day you'll be going home! 
 
Have a "Wonderful DAY in Christ,"
Jimmy D. Brown
\o/ Praise Jesus!