Nothing Worthwhile Is Ever Easy

by Rick Warren — March 1, 2025
From Life's Healing Choices

“Let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”

Galatians 6:9 (NLT)

Many different things can keep you from completing your life mission. Over the years, I’ve debated whether the worst enemy is discouragement or procrastination. If Satan can’t get you to quit your life mission, he’ll try to get you to delay it. 

The apostle Paul teaches that you need to resist discouragement: “Let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up” (Galatians 6:9 NLT). Do you ever get tired of doing what’s right? I think we all do. Sometimes it seems easier to do the wrong thing than the right thing. But that’s exactly when you must refuse to be discouraged.

When you’re discouraged, you become ineffective. When you’re discouraged, you work against your own faith. When you’re discouraged, it’s as if you’re saying, “It can’t be done.” That’s the exact opposite of saying, “I know God can do it because of what he said.”

As you consider how well you resist discouragement, ask yourself these questions:

How do I handle failure?

  • When things don’t go my way, do I get grumpy?
  • When things don’t go my way, do I get frustrated?
  • When things don’t go my way, do I start complaining?
  • Do I finish what I start?
  • How persistent am I?

If you’re discouraged, it’s time to resist. Don’t give up without a fight. Nothing worthwhile ever happens without endurance and energy.

When an artist creates a sculpture, he has to keep chipping away. He doesn’t hit the chisel with the hammer once, and suddenly all the excess stone falls away, revealing a beautiful masterpiece. He keeps hitting and hitting, chipping away at the stone. 

That’s true of life too. Nothing worthwhile ever comes easily. You want to keep hitting it and going after it, and little by little your life becomes a masterpiece of God’s grace.

The fact is that great people are really just ordinary people with an extraordinary amount of determination. Great people don’t know how to quit. The next time you feel discouraged, remember God is with you and God is for you and you will reap a harvest of blessing if you don’t give up.

Talk It Over

  • What does your attitude toward tough situations reveal about your faith?
  • What have you been ready to give up on?
  • How can God’s Word help you endure? Who in your life can you reach out to today to encourage you to keep going?

If you haven’t trusted in Jesus and committed to following him, why wait any longer?

Sometimes you have to work hard to keep doing the right thing, day after day, without being discouraged. But you don’t have to work hard for your salvation. In fact, you can’t earn God’s love or work your way into heaven.

Salvation is a gift! The Bible says, “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV).


If you’re ready to commit your life to him, then pray this prayer:

“Dear Jesus, you have promised that if I believe in you, everything I’ve ever done wrong will be forgiven, I will learn the purpose of my life, and you will accept me into your eternal home in heaven one day.

“I confess my sin, and I believe you are my Savior. You have promised that if I confess my sin and trust you, I will be saved. I trust you when you say salvation comes by grace, through faith, and not by anything I do. I receive you into my life as my Lord. Today I’m turning over every part of my life to your management.

“I want to use the rest of my life to serve you instead of serving myself. I commit my life to you and ask you to save me and accept me into your family. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”

If you just prayed to accept Jesus, please email me at [email protected] and let me know about it. I’d like to send you some free materials to help you start your journey with Jesus.


Give hope, prayer, and encouragement below. Post a comment & talk about it.