Don’t Quit Now
Don’t Quit Now
We often get weary in our challenges. We are sometimes inclined to quit; give up. It’s just too hard to keep going. Even when we’re willing to “tough-it-out,” we need a new perspective. We all need to remember that we have everything we need inside and around us. When we have God as our partner, He shares the journey with us; inspiring, empowering, and keeping us close to His heart.
Paul says it this way:
“Just think—you don’t need a thing, you’ve got it all! All God’s gifts are right in front of you as you wait expectantly for our Master Jesus to arrive on the scene for the Finale. And not only that, but God himself is right alongside to keep you steady and on track until things are all wrapped up by Jesus. God, who got you started in this spiritual adventure, shares with us the life of his Son and our Master Jesus. He will never give up on you. Never forget that.”
1 Corinthians 1:7-9 MSG
To live our lives we don’t need to depend on our strength, wit or wisdom. Although we like to know all the details like, “When will this end, what value is there in the challenge I’m going through today, I am out of strength and anything else I think I need?”
“What does God want from me anyway?”
Oh yes, I can relate.
In looking for answers to my questions, I came across Micah. In Micah 6:8 NIV the passage that was so familiar to me was “ …And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”; too simple?
Try the Message Translation:
“But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do,
what God is looking for in men and women.
It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor,
be compassionate and loyal in your love,
And don’t take yourself too seriously—
Take God seriously.”
Micah 6:8 MSG
God doesn’t need us to carry the world. He doesn’t even expect us to carry our world. Be fair and Just, when we fall short humbly go to God and own it. Be compassionate and loyal in your love, when there is no compassion in us, go to God and own it. Above all don’t take yourself too seriously – take God very seriously.
When we humble ourselves before God we are not explaining ourselves; we are not telling Him; “see what I have done” nor blaming others when we are wrong. We are simply going to Him and humbly asking Him to forgive us. Asking Him to be strong when we are weak. We are asking for His Grace in us that we can again be fair and just to our neighbors. We are asking Him to rise in us with His compassion, His loyalty in our love to all, even the unlovable.
At the end of it all; take ourselves at face value, weaknesses, strengths, mistakes, successes, and failures; knowing full well God knows it all and loves us regardless, desiring to lift us up and be our provision. We above all else can take God seriously. Over and over in scripture, we see God acknowledging that in our weakness He is willing to be our strength. Even when there are no nerves left in us untouched, they are frazzled or raw. Just stop. Do a reset. Humbly go to God and say, “There is not enough of me. I need your help. I need you.” In the name of Jesus, there is more power than we can imagine. In His name there is a strength, there is healing, there is an abundance of grace. God has a plan and purpose for your life. Be determined to ask forgiveness, grace, and look to God to blaze your trail!
When we are willing to stop and listen, His plan is much bigger than you and me, but we have our place in His big picture. Just as today will pass, so too will the challenge pass. We will be stronger if we go through our days as we look to God for that strength.
In Corinthians, Paul tells us God is listening. He is there in the midst of all that could go right and all that could go wrong. He is with us.
“Companions as we are in this work with you, we beg you, please don’t squander one bit of this marvelous life God has given us. God reminds us, I heard your call in the nick of time; The day you needed me, I was there to help. Well, now is the right time to listen, the day to be helped. Don’t put it off; don’t frustrate God’s work by showing up late, throwing a question mark over everything we’re doing. Our work as God’s servants gets validated—or not—in the details. People are watching us as we stay at our post, alertly, unswervingly . . . in hard times, tough times, bad times; when we’re beaten up, jailed, and mobbed; working hard, working late, working without eating; with pure heart, clear head, steady hand; in gentleness, holiness, and honest love; when we’re telling the truth, and when God’s showing his power; when we’re doing our best setting things right; when we’re praised, and when we’re blamed; slandered, and honored; true to our word, though distrusted; ignored by the world, but recognized by God; terrifically alive, though rumored to be dead; beaten within an inch of our lives, but refusing to die; immersed in tears, yet always filled with deep joy; living on handouts, yet enriching many; having nothing, having it all.”
2 Corinthians 6:1-10 MSG
Don’t quit now there is so much more ahead!
Do you have your quiet place where you can go, even if only for a few minutes? Do you intentionally stop and get connected to God regardless of what’s going on?
Maybe you could be the relief for someone else that just needs an hour to have some quiet time.