So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.
— Galatians 6:9 (NLT)
Have you ever felt like giving up? Honestly, who hasn’t? We have a tendency to put people on a pedestal and think they never have to deal with wanting to quit. It’s just me, poor ole me. All of us deal with that feeling at one time or another.
You may think, “this isn’t working for me so I’m going to stop trying and believing. It’s no use. Can’t do it anymore”. And that is exactly what the devil wants you to do. Then you are finished. Hope leaves. Joy leaves. You give up. And you reap defeat.
This kind of thinking is not new, but each person has to decide what he will do with it. Are you going to go by your feelings and really give up? Or are you going to let those feelings go and believe the scripture above which says you will reap a harvest of blessing if you don’t give up?
Remember, feelings come and go. They always change which make them unreliable. God says that His Word never changes. It will come to pass, if we don’t give up.
Therefore, don’t give up. Encourage yourself in what God says just as David did when all his men turned against him. He could have hidden his head and given up, but instead he encouraged himself in the Lord. The word “encourage” here means to get violent. David did not just say, “No problem, I will look to God to find strength”. He strongly forced himself to turn away from the negative condemning words coming at him and made himself remember who God was and that God said He would help him. He focused on the answer, God and His goodness.
What happened? God showed David what to do. David did what God said and things turned around. David got the victory because he didn’t give up. He reaped what he sowed.
Don’t give up! God is always for you and is working on your behalf. Stop trying to figure it out on your own. Bless Him by talking about His goodness and faithfulness. Talk about His lovingkindness and tender mercies. Talk about His taking away all our sins. Go on and on about His character and magnificence. Continue until your countenance is lifted and you have peace. Then follow his leading.
He will make a way where you see no way. That is who He is! He is for you – always. He wants you to look to Him and trust Him. Walk in your new identity. Plant good seeds and expect good! God does not lie!
You either trust God or yourself more. When you stop and think about it, it’s laughable. God is the Creator who knows us and our situation much better than we do. Yet, we think we know better? Really? Either we think we know better or we think He won’t come through for us.
Remember, you are “in Christ” who is a winner. So if you know and believe you are going to win, you won’t quit. And as long as you don’t quit, you have not failed.
I like The Passion Translation of Psalm 62:8 “Trust only in God every moment! Tell him all your troubles and pour out your heart-longings to him. Believe me when I tell you—he will help you.”
“Life doesn’t just happen. You reap what you sow.”
You Do The Planting