Don't Give Up

There are times and seasons where we feel the pressure to give up, where we feel like throwing in the towel and saying that's it or this is enough. All of us go through these times and it is in these times that we must be determined to press on and to never quit. Our God is not a quitter and we are His children therefore, we are not quitters. If God was a quitter, He would have given up on us in those times when we rejected Him and look to others instead of Him but He didn't, He continued to draw us to Himself.

 

Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.  And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:1-5 (NKJV)

We glory in tribulations (James 1:2). This is a very hard thing to do but when these tribulations come, we have a peace that passes all understanding that will keep us and sustain us in these times. Tribulation produces perseverance in us, the ability to continue when everything seems to be falling  apart. With this perseverance, we press on like the Apostle Paul who pressed toward the mark for the prize of the high calling in Christ (Philippians 3:14).

Perseverance produces character within us. It produces the character of Jesus Christ. Jesus persevered till the death of the cross. He didn't give up and said that I wouldn't die for these people but He was obedient to His Father even to the death of the cross. Jesus is determined, why shouldn't we be? In these times, we develop the fruit of the Spirit, showing the characteristics of Jesus.

When we have developed this character, we then have hope. We have hope that everything is working for our good (Romans 8:28) and that He who began a good work in us, is faithful to complete it (Philippians 1:6). We begin to trust in God that everything will work out and that He will give us the grace and the ability to continue without giving up.

In those times when you feel like giving up, think about Jesus and His perseverance and ask God for the strength and the ability to carry on.