“I gave up too soon.”
A few years ago I was helping out with our church’s ‘feed the homeless’ outreach. When all the meals had been served a lady walked up and asked for a second helping of food. A minute before the chef took that tray away that had some of the food on it. She looked and said, ‘Oh well’, then passed by. A few minutes later the chef returned with a bit more food. I called out to the lady and said, ‘Here, there is more food if you want it.’ She in reply said, ‘Oh, I gave up too soon’.
How many times do we ‘give up too soon’? We haven’t been persistent – especially when seeking God for the answer to our struggles. I’ve found that even those who struggle with relational and sexual brokenness do not have the energy or will power to persist until the break-through. I’ve heard these comments from counselees, ‘It’s just too hard’, or ‘I guess I’m not worth it’, or even ‘What’s the use?’
We are broken and wounded in different ways. Isaiah uses the imagery of a bruised reed in chapter 42. He says that God will not break any bruised reeds or snuff out smoldering wicks. While God is seeking justice he will be faithful to those that have been injured. I have often experienced God as sympathetic and compassionate to those who have gone through such pain. He has proved to me that He is more than willing to heal, rise up and make new if we don’t give up too soon.
Philippians 1:6 (Amplified Bible)
“And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.”
2 Comments
Staci
Thank you for this encouraging word! I often think of the persistent widow story that Jesus told to encourage his followers to never give up, to keep on praying and asking God. And God will answer in the best way, at the best time. I will check out Isaiah 42.
Judi Thompson
Thank you Staci. God bless you.