“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” – Galatians 6:9

My entire life growing up I was made fun of and told over and over again that I wasn’t good enough.

I was told that I didn’t matter, that I was a mistake, and up until I accepted Jesus Christ into my heart as my Lord and Savior, I believed it.

I allowed the opinions of others to create this distorted reflection of myself, one that completely contradicted God’s perception of me.

To cope with the pain and the hurt, the stress, and the sorrows of my life, I turned to drugs, alcohol, unhealthy relationships, and all the things this world had to offer me.

Time and time again however, when my high came down and during my low points, the hurt and the emptiness still remained.

I came to a point in my life that I didn’t want to live anymore. I was so depressed, discouraged and hopeless that I actually wanted to die.

I wanted to give up.

Looking back at my life, I sincerely and wholeheartedly praise and thank God that He never gave up on me.

What Jesus Can Do For Your During Dark Times

Jesus Christ found me at the darkest time in my life, picked me up out of the gutter, and accepted me as I accepted Him into my heart.

Jesus forgave me the second I asked Him to, delivered me from all the sin I was entangled with, and He set my feet back upon the Rock.

The Rock I chose in my teen years to walk away from.

Now, as a born again believer and follower of Jesus Christ, my life here on earth is supposed to be perfect right?

I’m supposed to get every single thing I want, nothing is going to be trying or difficult, and I’m never going to want to quit again…right?

Wrong!

Being a Christian in today’s world is not a cakewalk brothers and sisters, it is a faith-walk, trusting in and relying upon God every second, of every day.   Tweet

Do You Know What Faith in Action Looks Like?

It is so easy to quit.

It is so easy to shrug our shoulders and walk away, but true faith and courage is shown when we as believers stand and persevere, no matter what is given to us or taken away from us.

True faith is trusting in God completely regardless of what He’s allowing; even when our lives here on earth seem to be completely falling apart.

Faith is being joyful, content, and remaining obedient to God by relying 100% on the enabling power of the Holy Spirit amidst our wicked and fallen world.

It is so easy to look at all our problems, shortcomings, weaknesses, and all the negativity around us to the point where we get overwhelmed.

But we need to remember God is sovereign and in control.

He is more than able and willing to get us through absolutely anything He allows to come our way.

We are to look up, brothers and sisters, by keeping our eyes on Jesus, and those things which are above – above our problems, the chaos, our fluctuating emotions, and our fleshy desires.

If we keep our eyes on Him, we will see His strong and powerful hand at work in the midst.

As Pastor Steve reminds us, we will become, “Overwhelmed with God, and not our troubles.”

An Encouragement For You

My encouragement for you today is to stop and take a moment to really remember your life before you accepted Jesus Christ.

Maybe your environment hasn’t changed, maybe your health hasn’t improved but your heart has begun a transformation process because it is now filled with the Holy Spirit of God!

You now have an everlasting hope because your permanent home is not of this world, but in heaven.

You now have a hope of something better, a desire for something more, and a love relationship that you never even knew existed.

Do you know that the creator of the heavens, the earth, the animals…of the entire world, God almighty, loves you? Do you know that He created you for a reason?

Do you know that He has a special purpose for your life that you alone were created to fulfill? He has set you apart, called you by name, will complete the good work He first began in you, and you will one day see your Savior, your Redeemer, your Jesus face to face.

Yes, life here on earth will have seasons of pain. Yes, Satan and his minion of demons will create intense spiritual warfare every single time you do something for the Lord.

Yes, God will put “sand paper people” in your life to smooth out your rough edges and yes, life here on earth will be far from perfection, but we are to never give up!

We are to rely upon God’s supernatural strength to keep pressing forward at all costs no matter what comes our way.

God is doing a greater work in your life, in your circumstances, in the storm, in the pain, and in this season of waiting. If He has allowed it brothers and sisters, then trust Him, He has a good reason for it!

His will is to mold you more into His image, use you in a powerful way to further His kingdom here on earth, and bring Himself glory.

You were made for a purpose and people here on earth are counting on you.

God is going to work everything you’re going through together for good because He has called you and He loves you. (See Rom.8:28)

Through the testing’, the trials, and your fervent and obedient sowing God will strengthen you, so don’t give up! You will one day see the light at the end of this trial breaking through!

The mountain you have been running up has a finish line waiting for you!

You are almost there and others are running this Christian race with you, so don’t give up. (See 1 Peter 5:8-9)

We are living in the last days and Satan knows it!

He is out full force trying to bring you back down, distract you from doing God’s will in your life, and he’s trying to drag whomever he can down to hell with him.

So put on the full armor of God every single day. God has work for you to do, so don’t give up! (See Eph. 6:10-18)

Don’t give up on your marriage, your kids, your loved ones, your calling, your purity and God’s perfect will in your single life, your obedience to God, and in doing good.

You will one day reap that harvest of blessing awaiting you.

God promises to come through for you and He will fulfill all the promises He’s made to you. This fallen world is not our home brothers and sisters, for we are but pilgrims passing through.

So don’t give up, don’t you ever give up; your God is faithful, and will never ever give up on you.

“This time your heart said it’s had enough
Sick and tired of everything that’s so messed up
You don’t wanna move on just playing games
Praying hard somehow that your life will change
When you feel like you don’t know what to do
Stuck inside this maze you can’t go through

Don’t give up
Help is surely on its way
And don’t give up
The dark is breaking in today
Just keep on moving through these storms
Soon enough you’ll find the door
Just don’t give up
Oh, don’t give up”

– Calling Glory “Don’t Give Up”

Study Verses: Psalm 73:26, Isaiah 43:1-7, 1 Peter 1:1-25