What Will You Gain If You Give Up?

by | Feb 17, 2018

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James 1:6
But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.

We are all either waiting on something, praying for something important to us or praying for someone else, the point is there is something in our lives that we want God to do something about! We live in an imperfect world, so we always have some need or another and we need God to move! I have always loved what Corrie Ten Boom said that goes something like, “God owns the cattle on a thousand hills, so we just need Him to sell a cow!” You talk about having to face a lot in life, she lived through the holocaust as a Christian who was part of the Dutch Reform Church. She and her family were part of the group that helped hide Jews during WWII and that is why they were arrested and put in prison. and came out on the other side, better instead of bitter.  If you haven’t read her story, I would encourage you to!

Have you ever waited so long that you got angry with God, or maybe you waited and poured your heart out and when everything came to pass, it wasn’t right. God didn’t fix the situation the way you anticipated and you got angry? I’ve been there, we are human and we are bound to have human responses but don’t live there! Don’t stay angry! Don’t allow anything to make you so bitter that you give up on God or what He is doing! Let me ask you this: how will you benefit by giving up on God’s ability to use all of those things for your good? How will you benefit to stay angry with God instead of drawing closer to Him and trusting Him to turn things around? Is there someone more powerful? Do you think you are better off on your own? I know you may feel alone now, I have been there too, but you aren’t and that is a lie from satan trying to defeat you, don’t let him have the victory.

We have a choice and from all I have seen in life, trusting God and holding on to our faith in Him will bring about the best results the fastest. Holding on to our faith in Him without doubting Him is what will see us through and give us the strength we need to make it! Giving up never got anyone anywhere! Hold on to Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (NIV) Will you be better off giving up? Nope, I think not, that will usually just land you in deeper water. Hold fast to Him! Hold on to His promises! Don’t give up! He sees the big picture and knows what is best! Trust Him, even when it doesn’t make sense.

Quote:
“Today I know that such memories are the key not to the past, but to the future, I know that the experiences of our lives, when we let God use them, become the mysterious and perfect preparation for the work He will give us to do.” ~ Corrie Ten Boom

3 Comments

  1. Darlene

    This blessed me so this morning I have been depressed for awhile and can’t move past it.

  2. Paula Vaughan

    Janet, I love your devotions and they are always relevant to daily life. I use them regularly during our Prayer and Devotion time that I lead on Sunday morning. As always today’s is what I needed to be reminded.

    I do want to clarify that Corrie Ten Boom was not a Jew but a Christian who was part of the Dutch Reform Church. She and her family were part of the group that helped hide Jews during WWII and that is why they were arrested and put in prison.

    • Janet

      Thank you Paula! I am so glad you are able to share our studies! Thank you too for the info on Corrie, I will make that adjustment! Have a blessed week! ~ Janet