Don't Quit

HAVING DONE ALL, STAND...

When Steven Bradbury won the gold medal for ice-skating at the 2002 Winter Olympics, many people thought that is was just "luck". But he didn't. He had spent years training and months planning for this one race. He knew that he wasn't the fastest or the most talented, but he also knew that winning was more about finishing than racing. Many people who have found success in life have learned the same principle. The great life-battle-hardened apostle wrote to his beloved Ephesians, who were under intense pressure, to just hang in there. The way he said it was- "having done everything, stand."

Eph. 6:13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

There will be times when all you want to do it quit. There are times when you should quit (if you're causing harm, incurring loss, preventing someone from their rights, and so on). But most of the times when we quit, we shouldn't. Why do people quit before their finished? Discouragement. Disillusionment. Demonic. These are some of the possible contributers to quitting. When we desperately wanting to quit, and we go on the Bible describes this as "enduring".

and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
Matthew 10:22

Perhaps you're going through a tough time? Perhaps you want to quit? Providing that what you are doing is wise, you almost certainly shouldn't quit. You should hang in there. Jesus knew all about this. In Hebrews 12 it says that He "endured" the Cross. In other words, before getting to the Cross, He had to deal with the temptation to quit. This is when He called out to His Father for strength and yielded to Him afresh. We should do the same. This was Steven Bradbury's secret to success. He knew that the first thing he had to do in order to have any chance of winning was: to finish!

and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
Romans 5:4

Don't quit. Hang in there. Having done all you can do...stand. Just stand. Get back up. Dust yourself off. Get a good night's sleep. And keep going. Forgive those who let you down or hurt you. Bless those who persecute. Don't quit!

Father, give us the strength to keep doing what we should. Help us to endure. Help us not to quit. Help us to be bringers of people to Christ despite all of the distractions we deal with. Oh God, we need You. Give us wisdom to make the decisions You expect us to make. Give us the grace to be good friends to those who feel like quitting. Help us to stand. Amen.

Eph. 3:21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Ps. Andrew