Day 19- Never Give Up

Sometimes in life, we have a dream in our heart that for some reason doesn't ever seem to be fulfilled. It could be wanting to find a spouse or a getting that promotion in your job, maybe it's getting your dream job or house , but for some reason, days go by, weeks go by and sometimes even years go by but still that dream goes unfulfilled.

The worse part is that the devil always tempts us in our empty spaces; so if your dream is to find a spouse, suddenly you're going to start seeing lots of happy couples strolling on by hand in hand where ever you go, or if it's a promotion, it will seem like, everyone around you getting promoted and the list goes on. 

It's in times like these that we think, 'God, look, I'm right here. I'm doing all I can; I'm working hard, I'm praying to  you and praising you, why have you forsaken me?'

We get down and discouraged and we feel like giving up.

But let me encourage you today because God has not forsaken you, he has  invested too much in you to ever quit on you so don't give up.

Truth is, sometimes in life we are too willing to accept less than we deserve, so for example, the we believe that the first person that enters our life is the one or the first job we get, we think that that's what God has in store for us or the first house but sometimes God tests us. He sends the wrong people, the wrong things happen to us and we end up going through pain we could have avoided if we waited. 

However, even during those times, God is working in our lives. He is building us, our strength, our character. 

You may say, 'But I've been waiting for so long, God couldn't have been building my character, I've been waiting for years.'

Yes, you may have been waiting for years, but perhaps the reason you've had to wait is because you haven't learnt the lesson God intends for you to learn? Maybe it isn't even you, maybe it's the other person tied to your destiny; God is working on them.

Perhaps God is trying to teach you patience. Whatever it may be if that promise was placed in your heart, God will bring that promise to pass.

In times like these, all our bad memories tend to pop up in our minds. Everything bad that has happened, the devil also likes to remind us of the way we feel by telling us 'You're too old, you're dream is never going to come true.' or 'You might as well give up now, you had your chance at a happy marriage but you got a divorce, no one is going to love you now' or 'You in so much debt, you'll never get that house, that car.' 

But do you know that everything the devil tells you is a lie. You should rejoice when the devil tells you those things because whatever he tells you, the opposite is true! You need to have courage and faith in your God. Confess good things and good things will come your way.

Remember, God would never place you in a situation you cannot handle, he already knows how much you can take, he already weighed it out on his scales, he already knows that what you're going through will strengthen you so never give up.

This reminds me of the story of the fern and the bamboo:

The Fern and the Bamboo

One day I decided to quit...I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality...

I wanted to quit my life. I went to the woods to have one last talk with God.

“God”, I said. “Can you give me one good reason not to quit?”

His answer surprised me. “Look around”, He said. “Do you see the fern and the bamboo?”

“Yes”, I replied. “When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them.

I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grew from the earth.

Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed.

But I did not quit on the bamboo. In the second year the fern grew more vibrant and plentiful.

And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo.

In year three there was still nothing from the bamboo seed.

But I would not quit. The same in year four.

Then in the fifth year, a tiny sprout emerged from the earth.

Compared to the fern, it was seemingly small and insignificant.

But just six months later, the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall.

It had spent the five years growing roots.

Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive.

I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle.

“Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots?

I would not quit on the bamboo. I will never quit on you.

“Don’t compare yourself to others.” He said. “The bamboo had a different purpose than the fern.

Yet they both make the forest beautiful. Your time will come”, God said to me.

“You will rise high.” “How high should I rise?” I asked.

“How high will the bamboo rise?” He asked in return.

“As high as it can?” I questioned. “Yes.”

He said, “Give me glory by rising as high as you can.”

I left the forest, realizing that God will never give up on me.

And He will never give up on you.

Never regret a day in your life.

Good days give you happiness; bad days give you experiences; both are essential to life.

Serenity isn’t freedom from the storm, but peace within the storm.