I’ve come to a point in my life where I’ve learned a few foundationally helpful things – feelings are fickle, hair does grow back, and sometimes it’s okay to eat chocolate on the treadmill.

It’s true! Because as much as I’d like them to be, not every day is a red letter day.

There are days when I’m raring to go and I jump on my treadmill like I’m training for the Olympics.  But, there are also days when a few Hershey’s kisses are my companion as I step onto what feels like a conveyor belt taking me nowhere.

In both cases, I show up, do the work and get on the treadmill.  It just doesn’t feel as easy some days (thus, the morsels of chocolate motivation).

Recently, during one of these workouts with Hershey, I was thinking about Paul’s encouragement to Timothy to be faithful “in season and out of season.”   The context was Timothy’s ministry.

“Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; rebuke, correct, and encourage with great patience and teaching.” (2 Timothy 4:2)

Paul knew that Timothy wouldn’t always feel like fulfilling his ministry. 

Timothy was only human.  His enthusiasm to preach, teach, and encourage would certainly ebb and flow as he encountered good days and bad – days when the Lord felt near and days when it seemed like He was nowhere to be found.

Adding to that was the culture during Timothy’s days. People were turning away from sound doctrine as they surrounded themselves with a myriad of teachers because they had “an itch to hear what they wanted to hear.” (vs. 3&4)

Paul knew Timothy would be swimming upstream and would need this added encouragement to be ready in season and out of season – because of his flesh, society’s increased ungodliness, and, of course, the enemy.

So, how does this apply to us today?

We will not always feel “on fire” for Jesus every day of this life – our flesh will get in the way and the godless voices of our culture will vie for our attention. 

Weariness and worldliness can set in if we’re not vigilant.

But, like Timothy, we have a purpose, mission, and calling to walk out our God-given ministry – in season and out of season – regardless of convenience and our feelings.

Today friend, just show up! Persist and persevere with patience!

Jump on your treadmill of purpose and calling knowing that God is at work regardless of the season we find ourselves in.

(And, sometimes Hershey can help.)

Until next time, Grace and Glory!