Giving Up

Have you ever been tempted to give up? Just about anyone can do it. Lots of people do. In fact, giving up is one of the more popular activities among some folks and those of us who are part of the Church of Jesus Christ are not immune to the problem.

James 5:11 says, see, we count as happy those who have endured. To continue to move forward, especially when it may be against the tide, is one of those areas where genuine happiness is found.

I know some kids who have dropped out of school. I know some adults that have dropped out of the workforce and live from hand to mouth. I know some of God’s folks who have abandon the Church, and I haven’t found any of them really happy with their state of existence.

There are lots of reasons to endure, to not become one who gives up. Consider the following – Jesus refused to give up there in the garden when all of His humanity cried out for an easier way. Paul refused to give up when he was beaten, or thrown in jail, or run out of town. A study of the biographies of those we consider the “great men and women” of our society will reveal multitudes of opportunities for them to choose something other than endurance, yet it is their continual perseverance which allows them to exist in this category.

To repeat an old theme, I wonder where we got the idea that life was supposed to be easy? Perhaps it came from those who teach and preach that once we adopt the Christian life everything becomes “a bed of roses” as we speak (read: wordfaith) our ease and riches into existence. Nothing could be more antithetical to the teaching of Scripture. Life is hard, times are tough, we’re swimming upstream against the tide of society, and presently, in our beloved nation, not much is more ridiculed than genuine Christian faith. It’s easy to understand why some give up.

Don’t! Put on the armor of God (See Ephesians 6:10-17). Understand that God designs to give His very best to those who leave the choice with Him.