Second Chronicles 15:7 Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded.
Verse Context:
This powerful word was spoken by the prophet Azariah to King Asa of Judah during a time of national instability and spiritual reform. God had sent Azariah with a message to encourage Asa as he sought to rid Judah of idolatry and restore true worship. The prophet reminded Asa that although others had forsaken the Lord and faced hardship, those who seek Him will find Him (see 2 Chronicles 15:2). The final word of the message is this verse, a divine reassurance to stay strong, keep working, and not give up.
In this verse, we find a timeless encouragement: “Be ye strong therefore” — This is a direct call to courage and perseverance. In Hebrew, the word for “strong” here is chazaq (khah-ZAHK), which means to grow firm, to be resolute, to seize hold with confidence.
“Let not your hands be weak” — The phrase paints a picture of someone whose hands are drooping from exhaustion, whose arms are tired from labor. But God says: Do not let weariness cause you to stop. The work is not in vain.
“For your work shall be rewarded” — God promises that faithfulness, even when unseen by others, will be seen and rewarded by Him. In Hebrew, the word for “rewarded” is sakar (sah-KAHR), meaning wages, compensation, or divine repayment.
This verse is especially important for anyone in ministry, parenting, service, or spiritual battle. It declares: Your work matters. God sees it. Keep going.
Broader Context:
Second Chronicles 15 is a chapter of revival. Asa, the king of Judah, had courageously torn down idols and commanded the people to seek the Lord. His reforms faced opposition, and revival is never easy. But in the midst of this, the Lord sent Azariah to remind him that God is with those who are with Him (2 Chronicles 15:2). The chapter recounts Asa’s faithful response: he was strengthened by the prophecy, continued the work, and even entered into a covenant with the people to seek the LORD wholeheartedly.
The entire book of Second Chronicles was written for the post-exilic Jews returning from Babylon. Its purpose was to remind them—and us—that faithful obedience and wholehearted worship of the true God always brings His presence and blessing. This particular verse was meant to encourage weary hands to keep building, keep trusting, and keep walking with the Lord even when it’s hard.
Application:
Appreciating God’s Greatness:
This verse shows that God is not a passive observer but an active rewarder of those who do good in His name. He knows when you’re tired, discouraged, or tempted to quit. And He personally sends words of life; like this one, to strengthen you. It shows His grace, kindness, and intentional encouragement toward His people.
For the Believer:
Sometimes believers feel like their efforts are going unnoticed, whether it’s in ministry, family, prayer, or resisting temptation. But this verse is a heavenly reminder that God sees, and your spiritual persistence will be rewarded. The Lord doesn’t miss a single faithful step. When others forsake Him, when society chooses idols, when your hands tremble from exhaustion, you stay strong. He is watching, and He is working.
Call to Action: Keep going. Don’t let weariness convince you to quit. Strengthen your hands through prayer, worship, and the Word. Keep teaching, keep parenting, keep serving, keep obeying, keep resisting sin, keep standing for truth. You are not working in vain. You are not fighting alone. Be strong therefore… for your work shall be rewarded.
For the Unbeliever:
To those who haven’t yet turned to the Lord, this verse shows that God rewards those who seek Him. But you cannot expect His reward without first seeking His righteousness. Stop striving for the world’s rewards. They will all pass away. God is calling you to something better; eternal life, peace, purpose, and a reward that cannot fade. But it starts with surrender and repentance. Today is the day to stop laboring for things that do not last and begin serving the One who does.
Final Encouragement:
If you’re tired today, if you’re holding onto faith while feeling like no one sees; God sees. He strengthens the weary. He honors the faithful. This is not the time to let your hands hang low. This is the time to grip the plow, stand in the gap, finish the race. Be strong… for your work shall be rewarded.
Prayer:
Father God, thank You for seeing our efforts even when no one else does. Thank You for the promise that our labor is not in vain. Strengthen the hands that are tired today. Renew courage in the hearts that feel like quitting. Fill us with resolve to press on, to trust You, and to continue doing what is right in Your sight. Help us to work as unto You and not unto man, and remind us each day that You are our rewarder. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
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Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Verse Context:
The apostle Paul is writing to the churches of Galatia, a region in what is now central Turkey, with a tone that is both corrective and pastoral. This particular verse falls near the end of the letter, in a section where Paul is urging believers to live out their faith through practical godliness, especially in how they treat one another. Leading up to verse 9, Paul has just instructed the Galatians in verses 1 through 8 to bear each other’s burdens, restore those overtaken in sin, avoid spiritual pride, and invest in spiritual things rather than carnal pleasures.
The immediate context of Galatians 6:9 follows verse 8, which contrasts two sowings: “For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”
Verse 9 then builds upon this sowing-reaping principle by encouraging the reader not to give up—even when the fruit of righteousness is delayed. “Well doing” here doesn’t just mean moral behavior in general; it specifically refers to Spirit-led acts of righteousness, mercy, generosity, and perseverance in ministry. The Greek word translated “weary” carries the sense of becoming utterly exhausted or discouraged in spirit. The phrase “in due season” implies that God’s timetable for the harvest is perfect, even if it doesn’t align with ours. Finally, “if we faint not” warns that there is a condition tied to the reward: endurance is required.
In essence, this verse is a charge to keep going—to continue doing good even when results are not visible—because God promises a harvest if we do not give up. Paul speaks here not merely as a theologian but as a seasoned laborer, encouraging others not to lose heart in the middle of the work.
Broader Context:
Paul’s letter to the Galatians was written to combat the infiltration of false teachers who were leading believers away from the gospel of grace and back into legalism, specifically the belief that one must follow the Mosaic Law (including circumcision) to be truly saved. Paul fiercely defends the doctrine of justification by faith alone throughout the letter, culminating in a practical exhortation in chapters 5 and 6 about how genuine faith expresses itself—not through bondage to the law, but through freedom, love, and Spirit-empowered living.
In Galatians chapter 6, Paul is showing the fruit of a Spirit-filled life in the context of community. He addresses how believers should handle the sins of others (verse 1), encourages humility and mutual accountability (verses 2–5), and emphasizes generous support for teachers of the Word (verse 6). He then reaffirms the principle of sowing and reaping in verses 7–8, not as karma or legalism, but as a spiritual truth: choices have consequences, and what we invest in spiritually will return as either corruption or eternal reward.
Verse 9, then, is Paul’s pastoral encouragement to weary laborers. It’s as if he is saying, “I know this walk isn’t easy. I know doing what is right often feels thankless, fruitless, or slow to produce results. But don’t stop.” This is a needed correction in a world where instant gratification tempts believers to quit when the harvest is delayed.
As Paul transitions toward his closing thoughts in verses 10–18, he widens the call to good works in verse 10: “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” This reaffirms that well doing, acts of generosity, service, and encouragement, must not be seasonal, but constant, even when emotionally or physically draining. The entire letter, and especially chapter 6, argues against living under the law externally while ignoring the spiritual fruit that must flow from a transformed heart. Paul insists that true Christian life is lived from the inside out, energized by the Spirit, and evidenced by steadfast endurance in doing good.
In this broader context, Galatians 6:9 becomes a banner verse for faithful discipleship: no matter the fatigue, frustration, or delay, the harvest is coming—if we do not give up.
Application
Appreciating God’s Greatness:
Galatians 6:9 reveals the steady, gracious character of God as both just and faithful. His promise that we “shall reap” confirms that He is not blind to our labor. He is not hasty, but He is never late. God’s timing—“in due season”—reflects perfect sovereignty. He does not reward based on our clock, but according to His eternal wisdom. This verse reminds us that God does not forget faithfulness, even when others do. Every unnoticed act of obedience, every quiet moment of sacrifice, every exhausting day of well doing is seen by the Lord of the harvest. That alone sets Him apart from every false god or idol—He sees, He knows, and He honors what man overlooks.
For the Believer:
This verse is a lifeline to believers who are growing tired—not of righteousness itself, but of the burden it often carries in a broken world. Whether you are a pastor laboring week after week, a caregiver showing love to someone who cannot reciprocate, or a worker resisting corruption in your workplace, this verse is for you. Paul says, “Let us not be weary”—meaning we must fight that weariness. How? By remembering the “due season.” The Christian life is not one of immediate rewards. It is a life of sowing: sometimes in tears, sometimes in hope, but always with the assurance that God has appointed a harvest.
Call to Action for Believers:
Keep serving, even if no one thanks you. Keep preaching truth, even if no one listens. Keep showing kindness, even if it’s rejected. Keep living righteously, even if the results are delayed.
Do not grow weary in well doing—not just activity, but Spirit-led, gospel-rooted good. This verse is not just motivation; it is a warning that quitting before the harvest forfeits the fruit. If we “faint not,” we shall reap. That “if” calls for resolve. So pray for strength, stay in the Word, encourage one another, and trust that God’s season is better than ours.
For the Unbeliever:
To the one outside of Christ, this verse is not merely a motivational quote. It is an invitation to enter into a life where your efforts, your suffering, and your sacrifices are not wasted. The world offers shallow rewards for good deeds—but God offers eternal life through Jesus Christ. Verse 8 made that clear: “He that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” The path begins with surrender—by repenting of sin and trusting in Jesus. Without that foundation, no amount of good doing will yield the eternal harvest. But once you are in Christ, everything done by the Spirit’s power becomes seed in God’s soil.
To the unbeliever who is tired of living for empty things, this verse is a doorway to meaning. You were not made to chase worldly reward. You were made to serve a holy God and to reap a harvest that no one can steal—if you faint not.
Final Encouragement:
Galatians 6:9 is not a soft pat on the back—it is a battle cry for the weary, a steady voice calling us to endurance in the face of discouragement. It doesn’t promise that the work will be easy, only that the harvest will come. The seed of righteousness does not sprout overnight. The fruit of faithfulness takes time. But our God is not unjust to forget our labor of love. He is not idle concerning His promises. He is preparing a due season—and it will come right on time.
So to the believer who feels unnoticed, unappreciated, or overwhelmed, take heart. Your well doing has not gone unseen. Your prayers are not hitting the ceiling. Your efforts are not in vain. The command is simple: don’t faint. Don’t give up. Don’t stop sowing what is good, what is true, what is holy. There is a harvest already appointed by God, and if you keep going, you will see it—not because of your strength, but because of His faithfulness.
Prayer:
Father, thank You for the strength to keep going when we feel like quitting. You know our frame; You remember that we are dust. And yet, You call us to endure, not in our own might, but through the power of Your Spirit. Help us today to resist weariness and spiritual fatigue. Help us to remember that every act of obedience is a seed, and that You are the Lord of the harvest. Encourage those who are serving in secret, struggling in silence, or working without thanks. Remind us all that Your promises are sure and that in due season, we shall reap—if we faint not. Give us the faith to believe that, and the strength to walk it out. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Closing:
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Job chapter 5 verses 17–18: 17 Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty: 18 For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole.
Verse Context
These two verses are spoken by Eliphaz (El-ih-faz), one of Job’s three friends. Although Eliphaz is later rebuked by God for falsely accusing Job (see Job chapter 42 verse 7), we must not throw away everything he says—especially when what he speaks aligns with the greater truth later confirmed in scripture. This passage about correction reflects a profound truth repeated in both the Old and New Testaments: God corrects those He loves. Even if Eliphaz misapplied it to Job’s specific suffering, the principle remains eternally valid.
“Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth:”
The word happy here doesn’t mean giddy or emotionally cheerful. It points to a deep sense of blessedness or favor, similar to the meaning of blessed in the Beatitudes of Matthew chapter 5. The Hebrew word translated “correcteth” carries the idea of instruction, reproof, and discipline—it is a shaping, not a punishment. The correction of God is aimed at producing holiness, wisdom, and restoration—not wrath. In other words, the man who is being corrected is not being abandoned by God, but noticed and shaped by Him.
“Therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:”
The word chastening here is key. It is not mere punishment, but fatherly discipline. This is the same teaching found in Proverbs chapter 3 verses 11–12: “My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.” Later, the apostle Paul quotes this in Hebrews chapter 12 verses 5–6, showing that this is a cross-generational truth: correction is a sign of sonship. To despise it would be to misunderstand its purpose. To welcome it is to trust that God sees more than we do.
“For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole.”
This verse draws from the imagery of a healer or surgeon—someone who must cut in order to cure. The wound is not the end. The hand that strikes is the same hand that heals. God does not wound like an enemy—He wounds like a physician. He brings the brokenness that leads to repentance and healing. He causes pain to prevent ruin. The phrase “maketh sore” can be understood as affliction that softens or humbles, but then He “bindeth up” with the care and precision of a divine doctor. No part of this correction is wasteful. It is all part of God’s design for sanctification.
What makes this passage especially powerful in the Book of Job is that Job himself does not yet know that his suffering came by Satan’s hand—with God’s permission. Eliphaz assumes Job is being chastened directly by God for wrongdoing. That assumption is wrong. But the broader point remains true: when God does correct His people, He always does so with purpose, compassion, and restoration in mind.
And here lies the tension that makes this passage rich with application: Job thinks God is punishing him; Eliphaz thinks Job is being rebuked for hidden sin; but we, the reader, know Job is being proven faithful by a trial he does not understand. It reminds us that not all suffering is correction—but when correction does come, it is a gift, not a curse. God never corrects to destroy—He corrects to refine.
In this, we are reminded of what John MacArthur (b. 1939, Reformed Baptist) has often said about scripture: “The Bible offends because it confronts. And it confronts because it corrects.” Just as the world recoils from being told it is wrong, so our flesh resists the rebuke of God. But for the believer, correction is not condemnation—it is evidence that we are His.
Broader Context
The Book of Job, as one of the earliest recorded books of the Bible, offers wisdom not from Mount Sinai or the Law, but from the desert of suffering. It is a poetic, theological masterpiece that teaches not only how to suffer, but how to think rightly about suffering, even when the reasons for it are hidden from human eyes.
Job is introduced in chapter 1 as “perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.” He was not being punished for wrongdoing—but he was being tested. Behind the scenes in chapter 1, Satan appears before God and challenges Job’s integrity, implying that Job is only righteous because of the blessings he has received. God permits Satan to strip Job of his wealth, his children, and eventually his health, but without cause (Job 2:3, “and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause”). Job does not know this heavenly conversation occurred. As far as he can see, God is silent, and the pain is relentless.
Enter Job’s three friends—Eliphaz, Bildad (Bil-dad), and Zophar (Zoh-far). They attempt to explain Job’s suffering through the lens of a retributive theology: you must be suffering because you sinned. While they speak many things that are true in general, they apply those truths wrongly to Job’s situation. Eliphaz, who speaks in chapters 4 and 5, is the first to speak, and chapter 5 verses 17–18 are part of his encouragement to Job to accept God’s correction, repent, and be healed. The problem? Job has nothing to repent of—his trial is not disciplinary but demonstrative.
Still, Eliphaz’s words reflect an eternal principle affirmed elsewhere in Scripture. Correction, when it does come, is a grace of God. That’s why this passage has been preserved. Even when spoken by a flawed source, the wisdom remains.
This is a major theme of the entire Bible:
Deuteronomy 8:5, “Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the Lord thy God chasteneth thee.”
Psalm 94:12: “Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Lord, and teachest him out of thy law.”
Proverbs 3:11–12, “My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth…”
Hebrews 12:6, “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.”
But there’s something more happening here in the broader arc of Job. This moment points us toward a Savior who also suffered though innocent. Like Job, Jesus was sinless. Like Job, He was misunderstood and accused of being under God’s judgment. Like Job, He endured silence from heaven. But unlike Job, Jesus chose the suffering so He might redeem those who deserve it. Job is not the Christ—but he is a shadow pointing toward Him. His faithfulness in trials sets the stage for the greater faithfulness of Christ in Gethsemane and at Calvary.
By the end of the book, God speaks. He never gives Job a direct answer to the “why,” but He gives Job something better: a vision of Himself. And after encountering God’s greatness, Job repents—not for sin that caused his suffering, but for doubting God’s wisdom. He says in 42:5, “I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.” This is the goal of all God’s correction, discipline, and even silence: that we might see Him more clearly and trust Him more deeply.
Finally, in the last chapter, Job is restored, not because he earned it, but because God is faithful. He is blessed with twice as much as he had before, surrounded by children, honored by friends, and vindicated by the Lord Himself.
The broader context reminds us:
Not all suffering is because of sin.
But when correction does come, it is love in action.
And whether the trial is for testing or correction, God will not waste it.
APPLICATION
Appreciating God’s Greatness
These verses, “Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth… he woundeth, and his hands make whole,” draw our attention to a truth that is both humbling and exalting: God’s greatness is not only revealed in His power to bless, but also in His authority to correct. That God would take time to discipline us shows that He is not a distant deity, but a present Father. His greatness is not in pampering us with ease, but in shaping us into holiness.
We serve a God who is so sovereign that He can allow suffering without relinquishing control, so wise that He can use pain as a tool of growth, and so good that He never wounds without also preparing to heal. As Job later learned, God’s silence is not absence. And His correction is not cruelty—it is covenant care. He is the potter, we are the clay (Isaiah chapter 64 verse 8), and sometimes shaping us requires pressure, fire, and even pain.
For the Believer If you are a believer enduring hardship, this passage should be a stabilizing anchor. It reminds you that not every trial is a punishment—but even if it is correction, that is not bad news. In fact, it’s the opposite. It is proof that you are not illegitimate. You are loved. You are being refined.
The flesh hates correction, especially spiritual correction. It hurts our pride. It exposes our weaknesses. It reminds us we are not in control. But God is not seeking to shame you—He is shaping you. As John MacArthur rightly pointed out, the Bible offends because it confronts. It does not massage egos—it pierces hearts (Hebrews chapter 4 verse 12). But that piercing leads to life.
Sometimes what feels like affliction is actually preservation. A closed door, a lost opportunity, a hard conversation, or a sermon that stings may all be tools in the hands of a faithful Father who refuses to leave you as you are.
Call to Action for Believers: Ask yourself: “Is God correcting me in this season?”
If yes, don’t run from it. Lean into it. Learn from it. Let Him bind you up after He has humbled you.
If not, and your suffering is more like Job’s (a test, not a correction), then stay faithful. God sees the way you take (Job 23:10), and you shall come forth as gold.
For the Unbeliever
If you are not yet a follower of Christ, this verse may sound harsh at first. Why would God correct you? Why would He wound you?
The truth is: you are already wounded. Sin has already done the damage. What God offers through His correction is a chance at healing. He is not trying to hurt you—He is trying to rescue you from greater pain. That’s why Jesus came. That’s why the gospel convicts. That’s why the Bible cuts. But it cuts only so it can heal.
Correction is God’s invitation to you. He is saying, “Let me show you the truth about yourself—so I can show you the truth about My Son.”
You may feel wounded, but only Jesus can make you whole. Turn to Him—not just to escape pain, but to walk in truth. He will correct you, cleanse you, and claim you as His own.
FINAL ENCOURAGEMENT
Job chapter 5 verses 17 and 18 are a divine reminder that painful seasons are not purposeless seasons. Whether we are being corrected for sin, refined through trials, or tested like Job for the sake of unseen heavenly purposes, God remains faithful. He never wounds without intent. He never corrects without love. And He never leaves His children to heal alone.
If you are in a season of hardship, don’t despise the chastening of the Lord. Receive it as a mark of sonship, a tool of transformation, and a reminder that God is not done with you yet. Correction may humble you—but it will never harm you beyond what grace can heal.
He maketh sore, and bindeth up. He woundeth, and His hands make whole.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, Thank You for being a God who does not leave us to ourselves. Thank You for loving us enough to correct us, to refine us, and even to wound us when it brings healing. Help us not to despise Your chastening, but to embrace it with faith, knowing that You are treating us as sons and daughters. When we suffer and do not understand, remind us that You still see us, that You still care, and that the fire You allow is never meant to destroy—but to purify. For those who are hurting this morning, draw near to them. For those under correction, give them humility and trust. And for those far from You, use Your truth to bring them home. In Jesus’ holy name we pray, Amen.
CLOSING
If you’ve found these daily verses encouraging, enlightening, or fruitful, please consider helping us spread the truth and light of God’s Word by subscribing to the blog and YouTube channels and liking and following the Facebook page. Most of all, share Believers of Biblical Truth and our links with others who may need the sermons and daily teachings just as much as we do.
You are loved—so much in fact, that we want you to know and be Believers of Biblical Truth.
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