Part One: Don’t Give Up!
Life is not always easy. It can be a constant battle, full of challenges and obstacles that can make us feel like giving up. But as followers of Christ, we are called to persevere and not lose heart. The Scriptures provide us with guidance and encouragement to keep pressing on, no matter how tough things may seem.
One of the most important things to remember is to fight the good fight. As the apostle Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 6:12, "Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called." We are in a spiritual battle, and it's important to keep our faith strong and not waver in the face of difficulties. We must keep walking with God, staying rooted in His Word, and seeking His guidance in prayer.
Endurance is another key factor in not giving up. Hebrews 12:1 reminds us to "run with perseverance the race marked out for us." Life is a marathon, not a sprint, and we need to endure to the end, keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author, and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). It's easy to get weary and discouraged, but we must stand firm and not let anything move us, as 1 Corinthians 15:58 exhorts us: "Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
Part Two: Give Up!
The points of this post being “Don’t give up, but… give up!” Sounds a little paradoxical. However, while we strive to persevere and not give up, there are also things we need to give up. When others are singing, “Jesus take the wheel,” but the already truck ran us over, when they say “The Lord will provide,” and we feel like saying, “I wish he would until he does,” that’s when we need to give up all the things we have no control over. We must recognize that there are some things that are beyond our control, and we need to surrender them to God. As 1 Peter 5:7 reminds us, "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." We need to let go of worries, anxieties, stressors, and burdens that weigh us down and trust in God's care and provision.
Jesus also invites us to come to Him when we are weary and burdened. In Matthew 11:28, He says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Also, Matthew 11:29-30). We need to acknowledge our limitations and not try to carry everything on our own. We need to come to Jesus in humility, seeking His strength and grace to sustain us through difficult times.
Another aspect of giving up is letting go of our own understanding and trusting in the Lord with all our hearts. Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." Our own understanding can be limited, and we need to trust in God's wisdom and guidance, even when things don't make sense to us.
Finally, we need to lay aside hindrances that may be holding us back from fully pursuing God's plan for our lives. Hebrews 12:1 encourages us to "throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." We need to identify and let go of anything that is hindering our spiritual growth and keeping us from running the race that God has set before us.
In conclusion, the Scriptures provide us with a two-fold message: Don't give up on fighting the good fight, enduring with faith, and standing firm on God's promises. But at the same time, give up on trying to control things beyond our reach, cast our cares on the Lord, come to Jesus in our weariness, trust in His wisdom, and lay aside anything that may be hindering our spiritual growth. As we rely on God's strength and guidance, we can persevere through life's challenges and obstacles. Remember, as 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 reminds us, "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." With God's help, we can keep fighting the good fight and trusting in His faithfulness, no matter what comes our way.
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from God the Father
and from Jesus Christ,
the Father’s Son,
will be with us
in truth and love.”
2 John 1:3
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