Time To Give Up?
“But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.” - 2 Chronicles 15:7
If you are going to pursue God and His purpose and plan for your life, you will face adversity. Tough times, difficult circumstances, and heartbreaking moments will be on the menu. It is not a matter of if, but when these moments come. If the question is not a matter of “whether” they will come, then it must be, “what should I do when these trying times come upon me?”
These moments can really test a believer’s faith. Here you are trying to be obedient to God. He has given you talents and gifts and told you to use them to bring glory to His name. That sounds amazing, and what is even more amazing is how obedient you are being in pursuing it. You are doing exactly what He has called you to do… and yet, here you are going through trying times… but why?
Unfortunately, we cannot always know why. God has His reasons. Sometimes He decides to share those reasons, and others He does not. What He is most interested in, though, is not that you understand why, but what you do when these times come. As we spoke about yesterday, there are essentially three choices you can make when trying times or difficult circumstances come your way; you can give up, try it your way, or seek God further.
Today, we want to look at the first choice. The one that seems the most common — giving up. And why not give up? It is definitely the easiest thing you can do. And why do anything hard when you do not have to? The world is a place of variety. There is so much out there for you. If one thing does not work out, why not try your hand in something else? If the relationship doesn’t work, why not go find someone else?
These are questions we ask ourselves or others ask that seem so tempting. But do not be mistaken. When you are following God’s will, the worst thing you can do is quit. As we said before, sometimes God will allow these trying times to come upon you to see how you respond. Most people will give up. But most people also don’t reap the rewards God so eagerly wants to give them.
When you face trying times, do not take the easy way out. When you are following God, it is never time to give up!
If you are going to pursue God and His purpose and plan for your life, you will face adversity. Tough times, difficult circumstances, and heartbreaking moments will be on the menu. It is not a matter of if, but when these moments come. If the question is not a matter of “whether” they will come, then it must be, “what should I do when these trying times come upon me?”
These moments can really test a believer’s faith. Here you are trying to be obedient to God. He has given you talents and gifts and told you to use them to bring glory to His name. That sounds amazing, and what is even more amazing is how obedient you are being in pursuing it. You are doing exactly what He has called you to do… and yet, here you are going through trying times… but why?
Unfortunately, we cannot always know why. God has His reasons. Sometimes He decides to share those reasons, and others He does not. What He is most interested in, though, is not that you understand why, but what you do when these times come. As we spoke about yesterday, there are essentially three choices you can make when trying times or difficult circumstances come your way; you can give up, try it your way, or seek God further.
Today, we want to look at the first choice. The one that seems the most common — giving up. And why not give up? It is definitely the easiest thing you can do. And why do anything hard when you do not have to? The world is a place of variety. There is so much out there for you. If one thing does not work out, why not try your hand in something else? If the relationship doesn’t work, why not go find someone else?
These are questions we ask ourselves or others ask that seem so tempting. But do not be mistaken. When you are following God’s will, the worst thing you can do is quit. As we said before, sometimes God will allow these trying times to come upon you to see how you respond. Most people will give up. But most people also don’t reap the rewards God so eagerly wants to give them.
When you face trying times, do not take the easy way out. When you are following God, it is never time to give up!
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