Determined Living
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
I spent much of my childhood in a hard-working, upper Midwest community. Farmers and ranchers comprised the backbone of the rural areas surrounding the small town I lived near. Nothing seemed to come easily there. People and animals had to push through with determined living.
Springtime calving and lambing season seemed always just around the corner when a nasty storm would blow in with last-minute blizzard conditions. Every year, the warmer US regions experienced a sweet, blooming spring with lambs and cattle dancing in lushly greening fields. Yet the Dakota ranchers dug out from late snows and rescued newborn stock from prevailing wintery storms. It always took a toll on the livestock. Each year, many of them were lost due to the weather. Still, the ranchers and livestock persevered through the difficulties.
Growing up where entire livelihoods were at stake, I learned the importance of hard work and sacrifice in any weather to ensure everything was cared for. I always marveled at the strength and tenacity of neighbors and friends who worked tirelessly through their losses and challenging circumstances to see their ranches through yet another season.
Generations of hard-working farmers and ranchers passed down the legacy of sacrifice and determination. They demonstrated an endless work ethic but didn’t broadcast it. Theirs was simply an expected way of life. They did whatever it took for the love of it. Some years were easier than others, but all required a full commitment to the work. The influence of that mindset echoed in the culture. There is no such thing as a fair-weather farmer or rancher.
For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. But my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him….But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.~Hebrews 10:36, 38-39 ESV
Likewise, there is no such thing as fair-weather Christianity. It is an all-in commitment that requires our complete investment: heart, body, and mind. When life blows in with an ugly storm in the middle of important moments, we can’t pull up the covers and hit snooze.
We might not always feel passionate or excited to step into moments that require our attentiveness. But endurance brings us to the harvest. We won’t get a harvest if we don’t plow and plant. Growth comes from protecting and nurturing things. We can’t be ranchers or farmers by name only. Being a believer comes by genuine devotion that costs our time, energy, and heart. We can’t walk with Christ and stand still.
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?~Micah 6:8 ESV
God tells us He wants our whole hearts and lives, not just in word or in part. Some seasons are more challenging than others, but the legacy and loved ones we live for are always worth the struggle. Being a Christian isn’t always easy, but it is incredibly beautiful and is a life set apart that bears much fruit when we are engulfed in Christ. No other way of life has such an impact on the world. However, it is not meant to be a thing we just do. Instead, our deep love and commitment to Christ become the backbone and heartbeat on which our community and family can thrive.
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.~John 15:5 ESV
Let your commitment to walk with Christ daily impact those around you and in your community.
God, I am so grateful I have You to lean on through the easy and difficult times. I want to leave a legacy and not grow weary. I pray my community and those You bring into my life feel encouraged and find strength from my example. Help me remember that as I actively determine each day to live a life of love that echoes Your ethics and heartbeat. Help me love You well today and every day. Amen.
Genre: Non-fiction
Copyright 2025: Determined Living: Kristi LaRee: All Rights Reserved
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