Don’t Quit!

Believe it or not, I know what you have been going through. You or someone very close to you has dealt with illness; at least one loved one has passed away; there have been rips and tears within your family relationships; unexpected job loss or cutbacks have occurred; natural events such as tornadoes, floods, drought, earthquake, or other disasters have affected where you live; the increase in financial pressure has been so rapid that you’ve had little opportunity to adjust for it. Though all of the above might not relate to you, I am certain at least one thing has rocked your world just in the last few months. What I have personally experienced and have observed with others, particularly since the beginning of this year, can only be described as an increasing intensity of pressure against the body of Christ beyond what I have known before. One of the main consequences of all these things is that we get distracted from continuing on the path God has created us for and created for us. For this reason, I am compelled to bring this word to you now: Don’t quit!

1 Peter 4:12-13 (Amplified) “¹² Beloved, do not be amazed and bewildered at the fiery ordeal which is taking place to test your quality, as though something strange (unusual and alien to you and your position) were befalling you. ¹³ But insofar as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, rejoice, so that when His glory [full of radiance and splendor] is revealed, you may also rejoice with triumph [exultantly].”

The return of Jesus Christ is very soon, and we must be ready, remaining alert and awake to all that is going on in the spiritual realm, even while we take care of our responsibilities in the physical realm. We are called to watch and pray, no matter how tough the times. This life and our prayers aren’t only to help us “hold on to the end.” Other people, both the unsaved and the saved, need us to pray for them, whether we know them personally or not. We must remain completely involved to the end so that others can receive our Savior Jesus, as well. What we really face right now, regardless of the form it has taken, are the forces of darkness. Every effort of our enemy is designed to distract and hinder us from staying vitally connected to our Source, Jesus Christ, by keeping us focused on our circumstances, and those of our friends and loved ones.

Hebrews 12:1-2 (Amplified) “¹ Therefore then, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who have borne testimony to the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us, ² looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Let’s consider what David did when it appeared that absolutely everything was against him. He was in such a terrible natural place that he was being threatened with death at the hands of those he had been leading. What did he do in the midst of seemingly insurmountable odds? According to 1 Samuel 30:6, he encouraged and strengthened himself in the Lord. He reminded himself of all the Lord had done for him in the past, and all He had brought him through. From there, he was able to remind himself that God was still on the throne and would bring him through again. During all this reminding, however, he had to look away from all those things that would distract, and refocus on the One Who provides, delivers, comforts, etc. As a result, he rose up once again to stand in the position the Lord had given him, leading the way and helping make the way for others to follow. It is the same for us. We must strengthen ourselves with His Word, reminding ourselves of Who He is and what He has done already, both for all mankind and for us, personally, getting our eyes off the circumstances and fixed, once again, on Jesus Christ. By doing this, we throw off those spiritual hindrances, removing the obstacles from the course He has marked out for us and for others who come after us. The following verse is just one that the Lord has brought to my remembrance time and again, when I needed to throw off the hindrances, look away from those distractions, and refocus on Him. I encourage you to read this out loud until you find His strength arising in you once again.

Habakkuk 3:19 (Amplified) “The Lord God is my Strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army; He makes my feet like hinds’ feet and will make me to walk [not to stand still in terror, but to walk] and make [spiritual] progress upon my high places [of trouble, suffering, or responsibility]!

God’s Word is true, my brothers and sisters. No matter what it looks like, He has not and will not forsake you, for He loves you beyond all measure. You may be going through one fiery ordeal after another, but, like the 1 Peter 4 verse says, rejoice now so that you will be able to rejoice with triumph when Jesus comes back! Throw off all those things that are hindering and entangling you in the spirit realm and fix your eyes on Jesus once again. Keep on praying without ceasing and with a renewed sense of urgency for the salvation of the lost and the return of those who have wandered away as the day comes ever closer. Press on through. Stand firm. Don’t back down or back away. Strain forward in the midst of every pressure that comes against you. The Holy Spirit of God lives in you – the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead – and His enabling power equips and enables you to finish your race victoriously. Again I say, “Don’t quit!”

© Copyright 2008 Kay V. Stocking