I Give Up!
Isaiah 59:19 (KJV)
“So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.”
Have you ever been so stressed with the struggles of life that you were ready to throw up your hands and cry out “I GIVE UP!” ? I have no doubt that all of us have at one time or another!
I recall seeing newscasts several months ago about Tsunami flooding in the Far East that totally destroyed entire cities and country sides. More recently, just a few day ago in some parts of our city, torrential rains that lasted for some time, flooded neighborhoods and left homes and cars under a few feet of water, blocked roads and streets and caused major damage. The devastation from these natural disasters left lives reeling from the unexpected destruction. Many times on our lives we face the unexpected. Sometimes the damage is severe, upsetting our way of life. It can be from health issues, financial problems, family problems from children, grandchildren, siblings, parents, or any number of things that catch us off guard and intrude on our peace.
I remember when I was a kid that we would sit at home on Sunday evenings and watch a weekly variety show that was very popular back then called the “Ed Sullivan Show”. I realize that mentioning it is dating myself but at my age that really doesn’t matter anymore! I remember a man that had an act that was very popular. He was on the show every now and then. As a part of his act, he had a prop that consisted of a long apparatus with numerous tall poles sticking up out of it. He would start on one end of the line of poles and spin a china dinner plate on it, balancing it until it would stay up by itself. He would repeat this procedure until he got almost to the end of the line occasionally jumping back and forth to some that were slowing down and about to topple off the poles. Finally he would get almost to the end and one would look like it was going to fall off. Sometimes he would not manage to get all of them on the poles, but every now and then he would manage to juggle each of them in such a way as to have all spinning at once, and the crowd would cheer and applaud.
I have often thought about how his feat of skill with the poles and plates was like life to some degree. We are faced with challenges that make us feel like we are juggling plates on a stick! When we get one thing under control and seemingly manageable, something else will seem to crop up out of nowhere requiring all our attention and effort to keep it under control. Sometimes despite our best efforts, it seems that things will want to fall apart before our very eyes! Beloved this is what you call “Life”! In the midst of all our struggles, we should never forget that God is on our side, not against us. Our trials and struggles are not orchestrated by the Lord. Instead He keeps them at bay according to His plan for our lives. Remember when Job was being criticized before the Lord, God said do what you will to him but don’t touch his life! Job was beset by all kinds of trials but ultimately, he was blessed above where he was before the trial. I have always seen that when I am called upon to give up something for the Lord, He gives me something better in return and that would better further His plan for me.
While we are going through the trial it may seem like everything is lost and that we should give up, but dear ones, we are NEVER alone and NEVER forsaken. Deuteronomy 31:8 says, “And the LORD, he [it is] that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.”. Notice the scripture says he goes before you. Wherever you find yourself, God has already been there preparing things for you. He will not leave you or abandon you. He will walk with you through everything, leading you and helping you until you have reached your chosen destination.
When you are tempted to give up and throw in the towel, just remember that your trial will not be more than you can make it through. In 1 Corinthians 10:13, Paul said, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God [is] faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear [it].”. The word used in the King James “Temptation” is from a Greek word meaning a “Test or trial”. When we are tried, we will never be overwhelmed if we keep our eyes on the Lord. To give up is to do exactly what the enemy wants you to do. Before you give up, remember the verse above from Isaiah that says when the enemy comes against you like a devastating flood, “never fear” (By the way, that phrase is found 63 times in the Bible – KJV), never fear because when it gets too bad and you are about to crumble in fear, God will reach out his hand and say “Enough!” and satan will have to stop.
When the enemy comes against you and it seems like you are about to be overcome just tell him to “Remember Job”!! Give your doubts and fears to God, and watch Him work you through every difficulty. When they have run their course, I promise you that you will find they were not nearly as bad as you thought they were at the time. You will rejoice at how the Lord not only helps you through, but in how you are blessed through it all! Someone, somewhere, will be uplifted and encouraged by the story of how God came through for you! As a famous statesman once said, “Never give up!”
Blessings!
Bro. Tommy
