Things have gotten so hard you want to give up. You’re tired of fighting. Tired of feeling misunderstood. You don’t know why you’re struggling so much. You doubt yourself. You doubt God.
When evil comes, it seems to come out of nowhere.
In the beginning, Adam and Eve were doing fine until the “snake” appeared and one day talked to Eve in Genesis 3:1. (More on dealing with temptation).
In the book of Esther, an Agagite man named Haman appeared in chapter 3 (Agagites were long-time enemies of the Jews and typically lived in Edom), and he got a distinguished title over all important men in the Persian Empire. He later attempted to use that power to wipe out the entire Jewish population.
In recent history, Adolph Hitler rose to power and also attempted to wipe out the Jewish people — and he was originally a wallpaper installer.
Talk about “out of nowhere.”
When evil comes, it feels like it will never end.
It feels like there is no out, no relenting, no way to keep going under those circumstances. You think it can’t get much worse, but sometimes it does. Sometimes you find yourself wondering … Why? How did this get so bad? When will it end?
Nehemiah was told 10 times that his enemies would attack him from every direction (Neh.4:12). The threats from him adversaries continued as he and the people built the wall.
Before David became king, his life was threatened over and over again by King Saul who pursued him relentlessly in jealousy.
All day long they twist my words;
they are always plotting to harm me.
They conspire, they lurk,
they watch my steps,
eager to take my life.
–Psalm 56:5-6
Talk about men who may have felt tempted to give up!
(For more on this: 17 Lies of Satan)
When evil comes, there’s a feeling like nothing works. Nothing helps.
We look around, about to give up, but hungry for a solution — desperate for something to happen that will bring a sense of peace. We want to give up when it feels to heavy, when we feel too alone.
My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds; my neighbors stay far away. — Psalm 38:11
So if you’re about to give up… give up the right way. Give up to God.
Give up the worry and stress and fear that attempt to keep you enslaved. Open your heart and ask God to take the burden. Give up death so that you can have life.
If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.
– Mark 8:35
When it comes to letting go and letting God, I have done it, and all I can give is my testimony.
I’ve struggled and kicked and fought things that needed to change in my life. And I wanted them to change, but I tried too hard to do it my way, the world’s way. But that wasn’t the right way, God’s way.
Or I wanted situations to change, people to change. This isn’t for me to change. It’s for me to ask God how He can change me.
And it isn’t just something I once did, it’s something I still do all the time.
It’s not intuitive. It’s not easy to discern. It requires God’s saving grace and daily faith.
If the trials in your life feel relentless, remember that God has set limits on how long evil can last and how far it can reach. I say “remember” because it’s likely what evil wants us to forget.
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven…
–Ecclesiastes 3:1
Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.
– Revelation 12:12
Jesus could have given up. He knew that evil would have its hour — it would hurt his body, attack him from every side, curse him, spit on him, even nail him to a cross and leave him there to die. BUT, evil cannot reach the soul. Evil cannot steal us away from God’s love.
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
–Romans 8:38-39
So if you’re about to give up, give up to God. Ask Him to take over. And then watch what it means to have a real life. A life that no man, woman or anything in this world can ever take away from you.
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
-Romans 12:21
Post prayer requests or share encouragement below. Blessings.
I sometimes wonder if god speaks to me through you. Ive been following your words since late september. Im about to turn 23 march 12, and getting married july 21st. And i might of never had got to this point in life if it were not for your blog. I stumbled across your blog searching faith for women, and your blog popped up out of thousands of others. I just wish you would blog everyday, since i sometimes feel like only your words help me understand christ more.
Praise God! Leah, He meets us wherever we are and it’s AWESOME.
Your comment totally made me cry 🙂 I thank God for using this blog to speak to you, and with some recent life changes going on, I feel like God has blessed me through *your* words!!
I hope you’ll pop in more if it’s on your heart. We’ll be praying for a great 23rd year ahead for you, and a marriage blessed and joined by the Lord on July 21st! Amen sister 🙂
Im very happy for you, you sound excited! Im glad im going to have your words, i try to go and listen to words from the bible and its hard to understand and being that you put them so well into perspective is like life altering! In a good way! Thank you for writing me back! God bless you
Leah — I tried to read the bible a long time before I became a true Christian but got discouraged and gave up. But now I LOVE to read His word. Here are some things that helped if it inspires you at all:
1. Praying that God would let me learn His word (before reading).
2. Finding a bible I could understand. NIV is good, many also suggest English Standard Version (ESV).
3. Getting plugged in to a church where I could hear God’s message clearly. The Holy Spirit really opened my ears, and heart.
4. Going to a weekly bible study — totally enlightening.
5. Reading as much as possible.
Dear Jennifer,
Praise the Lord..I really feel good after reading your articles..gives me lotsa positivity..I do share the same with others as well..Blessed you are to be a blessing to many like me..Thanku Sister!
Due to a very selfish, bad choice I made a year ago, I’ve lost my job, my professional license, my car, and now stuggling to not lose my home. I had to do jail time, and now no one even considers me for a job. Also within this year I lost my brother suddenly, lost my sister in December, went thru a devastating breakup with the man I love, had to move 3 times and was in 2 car accidents, the 2nd one was bad enough that I should have died. In one year I’ve gone from being a single mom with a college degree and a good job, totally in love and planning my wedding to this. I have $240 in the bank and my rent alone is $970. I’rm trapped at home, alone, with no car to even go to the grocery store for myself. I have nothing left and I’m getting hit hard with spirits of depression, oppression, despair, fear, worry, guilt, and hopelessness. Ive prayed so hard for God to send the right job to, to just help me pay bills, rent, groceries. But God is not answering. I pray for this awful pain of losing my boyfriend to go away or even ease up, I’ve been battling this pain, also, for a year now. I’ve never been this desperate, I never expected my life to end up this way. Im a strong person, but I’m wearing down. Loneliness, heartbreak, grief from losing my siblings, no money, no job, no car. My friends have disappeared, I feel truly alone. Satan tells me I’ve been forgotten, that I deserve this, that its my punishment, that im not good enough for someone to love me and not leave. Every day is worse than the day before. I’m not sure just how much more I can take. I know satan is fighting hard for me, trying to take my life. Why isn’t God fighting for me too? I’m so very, very tired.
ITS THAT TIME WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE GIVING UP THAT’S WHEN GOD APPEARS, GOD THAT WE SERVE EACH EVERY DAY WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU ALONE THRU ALL THIS JOURNEY I KNOW YOU CAN DO THIS….GOD IS WATCHING ALL YOUR PAIN & HES ABOUT TO TURN THE TABLE AROUND ITS A TESTIMONY YOU’LL TESTIFY ONE DAY.HOLD UNTO HIM
I am so very sorry to hear this, Andi. My heart goes out to you right now and I am adding you to my prayer list. May the Lord take you into His hands and deliver you from this trial if He sees fit. This isn’t over yet though! He loves you and wants the best for you even when times get hard. Please keep seeking Him because He is always seeking You.
i feel sick within my body i wonder if GOD hear my prayers etc i want to give in everything to GOD i am told how but it is hard to give in
My first time on this site. I was looking for scripture on murdering by the tonque and needed scripture to help me out. I spoke t an assistant pastor and could feel the pain that pride costs me and I was convicted by one of the parties as I saw the anger in her face as I walked past her. Psalms 101:5 was clear on how gossip and pride can keep you going not looking at that you’re wrong until the fire is billowing. I thank you for your site and some of the comments I read. I needed this and He sent me this way. I’m just not sure when to apologize to the hurt parties. Or do I say nothing as I do see them almost daily at work.