Never Give In

 October 27, 2024

Sunday

I watched a few college football games yesterday. I have known for a long time. It is not over until it is over. Teams that appear to be beaten can come back. God seems to thrive on that idea.

It appears to be over when Abraham and Sarah have gotten too old to have children. It appears to be over when Moses leads God's people to the middle of the Red Sea. It appears to be over when Joshua's army is beaten by the small town of Ai. It appears to be over when Lazarus dies. It appears to be over when Jesus is crucified. There are many more of these stories in the Bible. 

Maybe you are in one of those positions. You have done all that you know to do. Yet, no matter what you do, it still appears to be over. Now don't get me wrong. There are times when it really is over. It was over for Saul when God told Samuel to anoint a new king. It wasn't immediate but it was over. What is the difference. No the fat lady doesn't have to sing! It isn't over until God says its over.

The prophet Nathan told David that the first child born to him and Bathsheba would die. David fasted and prayed anyway. The child died and David knew it was over. He held out hope until there was nothing to hold out hope for. It was over when God said it was over.

Saul begged to be reinstated as a long-standing king but it was over because God had said that it was over. It was over because God said it was over.

So, hold out hope until God says its over. Pray and ask if it is over. Keep trying to succeed. You don't know what God can do just yet. Calling it quits when God says keep going is the worst thing you can do.

Each and every one of us faces trials that knock us down. We must continue to get up. We fight a difficult fight, we finish a hard course, we win an uphill race. The crown we are awarded is one of a laurel wreath worn by the victor of the contest.

Winston Churchill once said, "Never give in. Never give in. Never. Never. Never Never." It will be hard but you will never win by quitting early. Yes, you will know when God says it is over. That just means He has something else. And tackling something else isn't giving in.