Don't Give Up!

Don't Give Up!

“I’m not sure I can do this. I might just have to give up. I don’t think I can go on….”

Have those words crossed your mind lately? Okay, maybe not lately, but at some point in your life, I’m pretty sure all of us have said, “I just can’t do this!”

There have been times in all of our lives where it seems like all the effort and energy that we’ve invested into something didn’t even make a difference. It’s as though things were just stuck, and you couldn’t seem to get them moving again. Like a car stuck in the mud! No matter how hard you pressed on the gas, you just couldn’t get traction, so you can’t make any progress.

Have you been there? Are you there now? Talk about frustrating! Our hope can be drained and our spirit and soul can become weary. And, if we’re not careful, it can drive us to the point of giving up.

Jesus had something to say about one of the things that causes this kind of frustration, hopelessness and weariness of heart.  He addressed the issue of giving up on our prayers.

There are periods when it appears that all of our prayers about something or for someone are not making a difference.  From all outward signs it looks like God is ignoring our cries and requests.  The energy we’re pouring into prayer seems to be wasted and useless.  Nothing is moving forward and changes are not happening, in spite of all our intercession.

When situations in life seem stuck, and our prayers feel fruitless, we’re tempted to give up — we’re tempted to quit praying.  When this temptation comes our way, we need to be reminded of the many teachings Jesus gave about persistent prayer. He KNEW that we’d have seasons like this. All of us.

Check out Luke 11:5-10 about the friend who asked for three loaves of bread. Or Luke 18:1-8 about the widow who kept going to the judge asking for protection.

The point that Jesus made in those two examples as well as many others is that we are to NEVER give up in the practice of prayer and to never give up the hope for answers to our prayers.  1 Thessalonians 5:17 says “Pray without ceasing.”

Don’t quit praying!  The delay is not a denial.  God may want you to adjust your prayers, change some attitudes or address some issues in your life, or simply wait patiently for His timing, but one thing He doesn’t want you to do is to quit praying!

Have a blessed day!

~Bev