If We Do Not Give Up

Do you ever feel like giving up? Sometimes I do.

Years ago, when extremely frustrated with a work situation, I cried into the phone as I relayed the story to my friend. Hurt, feeling overlooked, and exhausted from the workload, I whispered, “I think I need to quit.”

My understanding friend received my pain and lovingly returned it wrapped in wisdom. “It may be right for you to quit but not like this.”

Her words renewed my resolve for the moment.

Those few words have continued to speak to me throughout the years and have served as a litmus test for endurance, especially when life is just plain hard. Is this the right time to quit or is it a matter of stick-to-itiveness?

What about you? Do you feel like giving up on something? Is the weight heavy?

As we travel this faith journey, we may go down a path cluttered with briars of the unknown, with weeds of pain, and with an aroma of danger. But we keep going. Sometimes our pace slows for a while. Sometimes we need to take a rest. Sometimes we need encouragement from a friend, but we keep going knowing that it is part of our calling.

We are equipped for this journey.

We persevere knowing that God will use these moments, hours, and days for His glory and eternal purposes.

Moments of pain will be worth it if we do not give up.

“Therefore we do not give up. Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day. For our momentary affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. (2 Corinthians 4:16-17 CSB).

(Dedicated to Sheralyn Smith)