When I want to give up, I need to humble myself and ask the Lord to help me to keep going. In God’s mercy, He is always there helping me to do what He has asked me. As we go through life, there are many times it would be easier to give up and stop. Our enemy, satan, is continually telling people to give up or take the easy way out.
There is something about moving forward in a situation when others would have given up. Working through difficult situations helps me remember the importance of persistence and relying on the Lord. Many marriages end in divorce when couples give up on each other instead of persistently working out their difficulties with God’s help. Life is more like a marathon than a sprint because it takes staying power to keep going.
Joseph Did Not Give Up
Jacob sent Joseph to find his brothers, who were tending the sheep several miles away, and bring back a report of how they were doing. Finding his brothers was difficult, but Joseph was persistent and did not give up.
Genesis 37:14So Jacob sent him on his way, and Joseph traveled to Shechem from their home in the valley of Hebron. 15 When he arrived there, a man from the area noticed him wandering around the countryside. “What are you looking for?” he asked. 16 “I’m looking for my brothers,” Joseph replied. “Do you know where they are pasturing their sheep?” 17 “Yes,” the man told him. “They have moved on from here, but I heard them say, ‘Let’s go on to Dothan.’ ” So Joseph followed his brothers to Dothan and found them there. [1]
The Lord Did Not Give Up on Us
As you read the Bible, you soon realize that it would have been easy for the Lord to give up on humankind and wipe us away and start over. When man fell into sin, we can be thankful the Lord did not give up on His plan for humanity. He created man to have a personal relationship with Him, and this relationship would cost Him His Son Jesus’ life on the cross.
As Jesus walked to the cross, He could have given up but did not. With the strength from His heavenly Father, He kept going because His desire to rescue you was more significant than His desire to give up. This is how important you are to the Lord!
Don’t Give Up
I don’t know what you are experiencing in your life, but the Lord does not want you to give up on the plan He has for your life! The road ahead is not easy, but the Lord is with you and will sustain you along the journey. Psalm 121:1I look up to the mountains— does my help come from there? 2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!” [2]
To hear what to do when you want to give up, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/joseph-sold
[1] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Ge 37:14–17). Tyndale House Publishers.
[2] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Ps 121:1–2). Tyndale House Publishers.