Most of us have heard of the dangers of still water – but why is it so dangerous? Stagnant water becomes a breeding ground for bacteria and harmful microbes, some of which can be fatal to humans. You may be wondering what this has to do with your personal life. The connection became clear to me on an evening stroll, when a wise man pointed to a nearby creek and asked me what I saw. I noticed the water moving, alive with current and motion. He said to me: in the turbulence of flowing water comes life, but stagnant waters are harbingers of death and infection. That analogy stayed with me – and it came rushing back this morning as I sat reading Galatians 6.
Verses 9 and 10 read: “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” To understand why the writer urges us not to grow weary, we must first be honest with ourselves: doing the right thing is rarely the easy thing. It is easy to go along with the crowd, to act on impulse, to do whatever feels natural in the moment. The real test comes when we are called to deny ourselves – to say no to certain habits, to resist certain pleasures, to keep choosing integrity when no one is watching. That kind of life is tiring. It can feel like fighting an uphill battle, constantly going against the grain. But here is the danger: when we grow weary and decide to take a break from running this race, spiritual stagnation sets in. Like still water, that stagnation becomes a breeding ground – slowly, quietly eating away at our spiritual health.
I want to draw particular attention to one phrase in Galatians 6:9: “if we do not give up.” That word “if” is doing significant work. It functions as a conditional clause, meaning the promise that follows – that we will reap – depends entirely on the condition – not giving up – being met. The reward is not unconditional. We cannot expect to reap the harvest of eternal life if we have abandoned the field. Taken in the broader context of Scripture, spiritual stagnation leads to death, just as still water breeds bacteria that destroys. And this principle extends beyond the spiritual into the practical: though life brings difficult seasons and bumpy stretches, we cannot afford to stop flowing. We must adapt, learn, and grow through our circumstances rather than being overcome by them.
The good news is that we do not have to run this race alone. Isaiah 41:10 reminds us: “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Keep flowing. God bless, until next time!
