Don’t Give Up

“The problem with life is that it is so daily”.  I first heard this common phrase from my Dad.  He was impressing on me the importance of keeping a ‘big-picture’ perspective on life.  It is important not to get bogged down in the daily-ness of life, or discouraged from an apparent lack of progress in what we are doing.  I find myself struggling at times with this very concept, and I find it fascinating that the Bible speaks to our need to keep on going with an eternal perspective in view.  

Consider these words from Galatians 6:9…"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”  First of all, in this passage, the apostle Paul acknowledges the reality of becoming weary even at doing good things.  There is a point where our best and most helpful opportunities for help and service seem to become burdensome and lose their luster.  It is important that we remember we have been given these opportunities from God for a purpose that He has in mind.  There will be a harvest “in due season” if we don’t give up or give in to the temptation to quit.

When we feel weak or discouraged, here are some encouragements from the Bible that can help us keep going:

• John 6:35  "Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”  God’s strength in Christ Jesus is the power we need to live and love every day.

• John 4:13-14  "Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”  Our soul-thirst is quenched and renewed in Jesus.

• Romans 8:37-39 “...in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  When we feel discouraged or defeated, the truth is that any victory we have is in Jesus. 

In Christ we live and move and have our being.  By His strength, His daily provision, and the encouragement we receive from the Holy Spirit, we can overcome discouragement and weariness and keep walking with the Lord!