Don’t Give Up
I love how The Message paraphrases 2
Corinthians 4:17—18. It’s a reminder I need, maybe
every day. Here it is:
So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even
though on the outside it often looks like things
are falling apart on us, on the inside, where
God is making new life, not a day goes by
without his unfolding grace. These hard times
are small potatoes compared to the coming
good times, the lavish celebration prepared
for us. There’s far more here than meets the
eye. The things we see now are here today,
gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see
now will last forever.
I had a minor meltdown one day last week. I
was simply trying to get the leaves out of our
pool—something I’ve done often for many years.
However, of late, the smallest of tasks have been
a challenge. With this task, I found I had to stop
and rest after each batch of leaves I pulled from
the pool. I did this a few times, and then I just
leaned on the pole I was using and cried…and
cried and cried! I was so over being tired, fatigued,
constantly having body aches, feeling nauseous,
and dealing with run-away emotions caused by my
cancer treatments. Jeff, my husband, came over to
comfort me and remind me that this is temporary
and that I’m almost to the finish line.
AN UNUSUAL AUDIENCE | from page 12 ___________________________________________________________________________
After each service is over, we line up outside
the chapel in two columns. The officers in brown
uniforms count the prisoners in blue. Darkness
has fallen. The moon and the stars light the black
sky. Razor-wire fences surround us, and patrol
cars check the perimeter fences. Guards in the
control center watch the monitors for activated
sensors. No one has ever escaped from this
prison. Yet every Sunday, men are set free.
As we wait for the officers to finish the count, I
by Jeannine Moffitt
Today, I encourage you
to not lose hope. If you
feel you’re at the end of
your rope, tie another
knot and hang on! God
is at work. Trust Him.
Set your eyes on Him,
not ot your situation or
circumstances.
He was right. I needed that gentle reminder. It
It
helped ed me regroup.
It’s okay to have these moments of utter
frustration ation or meltdown. It’s normal—but we can’t
can’t
just stay there. God’s Word reminds me in the
verses s above that our afflictions, sufferings, and
trials are temporary.
But t it it is still difficult. When When we know know we are
close to being done with something or close
to the e end of finishing something, we we just
just
want it to be over, don’t we? Whether it’s
a project ject at work or school, dealing with
with
a tough gh relationship, battling an illness,
or serving rving a a prison sentence…we
just want it over!
watch for the chaplain and listen for his dedicated
farewell. He closes the chapel doors and shouts,
“Ain’t Jesus good?”
The visiting pastor and his people stare in awe
as all 110 men turn in response and shout, “All
the time.”
It’s our ritual good-bye to remind us that
it’s not where we are that counts, but who we
are in Christ. No one knows that better than a
redeemed prisoner.
Today, I encourage you to not lose hope. If you
feel you’re at the end of your rope, tie another knot
and hang on! God is at work. Trust Him. Set your
eyes on Him, not your situation or circumstances.
In Ephesians 3, Paul writes from his prison cell
to remind us that we can come to God in freedom,
without fear, because of our faith in Christ.
With God’s power working in us, we can do much.
Remember, God is refining us to show forth
His glory.
Go ahead and have that meltdown if you need
need
to. Just promise you won’t stay there. Let the
the
Lord lavish on on you His His grace and love. Grab hold
of His promises and head toward the finish line.
You’re almost there. When you’ve come through
whatever it is you’re going through, you’ll look
back and be glad glad you didn’t quit.
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