About to Give Up? Wait, Read This…
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.