I had been trying to write and was ready to give up for the day.  When I stood to go, something within me said, “Never Give Up!”  Remembering Winston Churchill’s speech, I finished writing this article!

  I recently saw the film Facing the Giants where a coach was ready to throw in the towel.  Through prayer and reading Scripture, he gained the strength to go on.  He and his team were defeated with a six year losing streak that caused some parents to ask for his resignation. 

Using principles in God’s Word to retrain his team, he inspired them to go on to win a championship.

It’s easy to give up when life gets hard

  When I attended Liberty University, I frequently remember Dr. Falwell encouraging us not to give up.  One of his famous quotes was, “We do not determine a man’s greatness by his talent or worth, as the world does, but rather by what it takes to discourage him.”  He quoted Proverbs 24:10 so often that I memorized it just from hearing him, If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.

  God promises we will be rewarded if we remain faithful.  And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up (or do not faint) (Gal 6:9).  We must keep going forward!

It’s hard to persevere through trials

  As we grow in our faith, we mature in perseverance (2 Pet 1:6).  Trials produce perseverance (Rom 5:4).  Hebrews 12:1 encourages us to put aside the things that slow us down and the sin that gets us tangled up.  Instead we are to run this Christian life’s race with patience and endurance.  God does not want us to give up, just as He never gives up on us.  He promises that our hard work is not futile and will be rewarded (1Cor 15:58).

Success is sure through God’s Power.

  In the film, the coach challenged a player to keep going onward blindfolded.  Thinking he could only make it to the fifty-yard line, the player made it to the end zone.  We think we know our limit, but God gives us the strength to go on.  Where our strength ends, His takes over.  They who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint (Isa 40:31).  We are encouraged to be strong in the Lord (Eph 6:10).

  So when we are overwhelmed and our heart is faint, we cling to the rock that is higher than we are (Psa 61:2).  Then His glorious power strengthens us to endure with joy and patiently finish the task (Col 1:11).

  Elijah was ready to give up and die (1Ki 19:4).  After rest, food and time with the Lord, Elijah realized he was not alone in serving God; there were 7,000 men that had not bowed to Baal. God was not finished with him, but told him to get back to work and gave him new assignments.  God did not give up on Elijah, though Elijah had been ready to give up! 

  Sometimes we think we are alone or forgotten by God, but as He did not give up on Elijah, He will not give up on us.  He has more power than we can imagine and wants us to reflect His power by not fainting or losing hope.

  When the going gets tough, the tough get going!  Today I challenge you not to give up with what God has called you to do:  your responsibilities, your relationships, your job, or you fill in the blank.

1.  How will Philippians 4:13 encourage you to do the tough thing you want to give up on? Commit this verse to memory and quote it to yourself when you are tempted to quit.

2.  List some ways that prayer encourages you to keep going.  Are you truly trusting HIM for help you in trials and to mature you as you endure?

• Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think