I'm sure everyone has been at the point where they just wanted to give up; whether it was on something big or small, doesn't matter. I'll be honest and say that I'm at a point like that right now, of wanting to give up on something. I know that I shouldn't, but things have just become so hard in the said area that my flesh and my mind are just exhausted beyond imagination. Trying to "keep face" about it seems pointless anymore. I've finally discovered, I think, that I really can't change this situation on my own. I've tried and nothing changes. I've prayed about it, but nothing has really changed; but I think I figured out that, honestly, I've been saying the words but not putting forth the effort I know it will take to truly change things. I've been trying to carry this on my own, and it hasn't been working. I'm ready to give up. I was reading my Bible tonight and I came across-- no, I couldn't have done it. This was one of those times that God had to be guiding my fingers (if you've ever experienced that you know what I mean). I landed on this passage in Hebrews tonight that I want to post. I'm starting in the middle of chapter 11 and I'll end in one of the first few verses of chapter 12. In case you're not familiar with it, chapter 11 of Hebrews has been "nicknamed" the "Hall of Faith." It gives details on how Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sara, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, and even Rahab were able to accomplish miracles through faith, just because they had faith. I know this is a little lengthy, but I'd encourage you to read the whole thing:
"And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong,
waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, more-over of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God, For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds."
After reading that, it was hard for me to not be encouraged! It starts off by asking what more you need after all the Writer has already told you previously in the chapter. It then tells you the types of things that have been accomplished by faith in the past, and tells you of more people that accomplished great works through faith. This is my favorite part: Every one of those people, who accomplished those unthinkable things through faith, is sitting in a cloud of witnesses as we speak, looking down on believers and encouraging them in our race down here.
I've come out of reading this encouraged and, although I'm not looking forward to it, I know that I just can't give up on this. I'm handing it over to God and trusting Him to take care of it; but I know that I have to do my part, too, and that I can handle whatever comes at me by doing that. I'm encouraged knowing that there are people who are cheering for me right now, that want me to succeed.
I'm not sure why I wanted to post this. Maybe somebody needed to read this, too. If so, I hope it encouraged you as much as it encouraged me! Please keep me in your prayers; constant battle between my flesh and the Spirit going on inside me as we speak :) but I feel confident that I'll get through this. Hopefully this won't be looked at as a pointless post-- if anything, it did help me to actually type this out! If you take anything away from this, let it be this: Don't give up!
