Hey everyone, I just want to encourage you all to NOT give up. Do not throw in the towel. Don’t abort the process. Don’t run from the process. Hang in there! It doesn’t matter you’re facing. It doesn’t matter what you’re up against. It doesn’t matter what is coming up in the future. Do NOT give up.
You may be in a season where it seems like things are getting worse. You’re praying, you’re crying out to God, you’re worshiping, you’re praising, you’re meditating on the Word, you’re waiting on God, you’re trying to trust God more & more, you’re in fellowship with other people, & some more — but it seems like God is not in the midst. It seems like whatever you try, it’s NOT working.
Well don’t lose heart. This is just a trial. This is just a test. Don’t quit. Continue to pray. Continue to press. Continue to worship. Continue to praise. Continue to run. Continue to seek God. Continue to meditate on the Word. Continue to do the Word. Continue to fellowship. Continue to trust God. Continue to wait.
When things seem to not let up, you have to remain PERSISTENT. Persistence is KEY. Remember the story of the persistent widow in Luke 18? She didn’t give up presenting her request to the unjust ruler. Since she kept going to him, he ended up granting her request. So how MUCH more will a loving, JUST God do what you ask if you are persistent?! Brothers & sisters, you have to continue to pray. You cannot cease praying because of your situation is tough. You cannot cease praying because you feel as though God is not listening to you. HE IS! Psalm 66:19 says, “but God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer.”
Carry your issues, burdens, sorrows, pain, struggles, worries, concerns to God in PRAYER. He WILL sustain you & He won’t let you fall. (Psalm 55)
Jesus told us in John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in me you have have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” See, Jesus Christ even told us that we were gonna have hard times. He told us that we were going to go through trials & tribulations. He told us that we were going to have problems. What’s different is that we can have PEACE through our trials & tribulations because of Jesus Christ. Isaiah 26:3 tells us that if we keep our minds stayed on Jesus, we will have peace. So get your eyes & thoughts off that problem. Fix your EYES on Jesus Christ. Who is the author & finisher of our faith! (Hebrews 12:2) You have peace when your focus stays on Jesus Christ. So when you find yourself not trusting God or when you start counting all your issues, get your mind back on the Savior. We are NOT exempt from troubles, but we don’t have to be exempt from peace through Jesus Christ.
Take in stride that you’re going through. This test & trial is going to MATURE YOU. This test & trial is going to help you GROW. This test & trial is going to STRENGTHEN YOU. This test & trial is going to bring glory to the Lord. This test & trial is going to cause you to believe even more in Christ. This test & trial is going to draw you closer to the Lord. This test & trial is going to expand your relationship with the Lord. James 1:2-4 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
So my brothers & sisters, don’t be discouraged. Don’t be downcast. Don’t quit. Count it pure joy if you’re going through. It’s only to make you stronger.
“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” – Isaiah 40:29-31
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