Don't Give Up

  For several years, I worked as an instructional assistant in our local elementary school.  I worked with children who struggled, not because they weren’t capable, but they needed the “one on one” attention a classroom teacher just couldn’t give them.  There was one little girl who taught me a lesson!  

When she was reading, she would get stuck on a word.  With coaxing, she would figure out the word and then she would go back to the beginning of the sentence and begin again.  In this way, she not only learned the word, but strengthened her reading ability over all.  There were days when she would become frustrated, but she didn’t quit!

Keep Trying

Jesus teaches us through a parable in Luke 18 that we should never give up and rather be like that small child who kept trying to read.  She didn’t give up; she would begin again.  When things are not going our way or our prayer requests seem unanswered, we need to go back to the beginning and re-evaluate.  

When we become frustrated we need to let God know.  He wants us to tell him how we feel.  Perhaps it isn’t time, or our motives are off kilter.  But communicating with God is like talking to our best friend.   Isn’t this what best friends are for?  We must never give up!  We need to seek Jesus in prayer.  We should continue to seek his counsel and will; and believe there will be results.  When we do this, not only will we see answers to our prayers, but our relationship with Christ will grow stronger.

This child’s insight, with whom I worked so many years ago, was inadvertently perhaps, doing the right thing – by not giving up.  I’d like to be like her when things get all jumbled up in my mind, and further, into my world.  Giving up just can’t be an option.  There are always answers even if we have to dig way down into ourselves to find them.  Often it takes digging into ‘The Word’ as well as,  spending time on our knees.

Daily Frustrations

Our Christian walk can become frustrating with the demands of life.  We plan and schedule in Bible Study and prayer time, but life has other ideas!  Children get sick, a call comes in, company comes or we don’t feel well.  My nemesis has always been travel.  I get in a ‘good groove’ for several weeks, and then there is a road trip, sometimes lasting only a few days; other times several weeks.  Whatever the time frame, my ‘proposed schedule’ is out the window.  Once the habit (however meager) is started, breaking it, is remarkably easy and it’s harder than ever getting back on track.

I encourage you to consider areas in your life where “giving up” seems to be the best option.  Ask God to give you the courage to keep moving forward, clarity to know where you are heading, perseverance to stand against the obstacles that will certainly arise, and trust in God who goes before you in all things! Be inspired! Don’t give up!  

Photo Credit:  https://stocksnap.io/search/reading