‘Don’t Give Up, Whatever You Do, Don’t Ever Give Up!’

“Do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.”  Hebrews 10:35

I have a feeling that each one of us have had some tough times in our lives, and do you know what?  Tough Times go with us just living here on earth, in this city, in our jobs, and even in our families.   If fact be known, Tough Times are inescapable.

There are days when we are confident in our lives, with the Lord, work, and family. But let it be known that our own salvation and our relationship with God will be tested.

It’s interesting how we see clearly when someone else is going through a tough time, and willingly we offer support and help to encourage them during their tough time.

When we or someone we know is going through Tough Times, we need to identify and recognize that everything that happens in our life is first filtered through the hands of God before they come our way, so that when the tough times arrive, we can be sure that there is a test brought on by God, to show us how much confidence we have in God helping us and delivering us out after He has worked the tough times  through us.

It’s amazing when we get a ticket while driving our cars, that we vow we will never do that again!  And yet, for most of us, we do.  As a result, we are tested again until we figure it out!

It’s one thing to come to church and singing out loud, “It is well with my soul” at the end of what was a great message and worship; and yet it becomes quite another, to be able to sing that song when they foreclose your house, or maybe you’ve just left the doctor’s office and been told you have cancer, or some other long-term debilitating illness, or you lose a child to death.

The reality is that we can’t afford for our faith to take a holiday when tough times arrive at our doorstep, so don’t throw it away! Our Bibles teach us that we are to persevere!  We must continue in our faith in spite of difficulties or obstacles, or discouragement. We need to know that this test will “work together for good, to those who love God and are called according to His purpose.”    God is building a stronger faith in these tough times because it is all part of His purpose to fulfill your life, not to destroy it. He promises that He “will never leave you or forsake you; He will complete the work He began in you.

I still remember vividly when Patty and I were sitting in the hospital eight months ago, after I had undergone a colon operation where they removed part of my colon.  As I sat there withering in pain, a doctor came in what I had already thought was the tough times and he proceeded to give me even more ‘bad news’.  He said, “Mr. Martinez, you’ve got cancer!”

I really didn’t know how to respond to that. I felt alone, even though my new bride was there with me.  All I knew was that God brought it, I don’t know why yet, but I’m confident He will reveal it to me.  It took awhile but when I was ready, He showed me it was to strengthen my confidence in Him, that in turn I would be able to look at people in the eye, and share with them my tough time and how God gave me His promise; “This sickness is not unto death, but for My glory; that the Son of God might be glorified thereby”   

My test would come via seven and half months of chemotherapy, and through this, I would have learned to strengthen my perseverance.   Mind you, before all this happened, I was pretty much in full time Ministry, teaching several Bible Studies, visiting the sick, on staff at my church, AND two weeks before this tough time would arrive, I was getting married!  Everything was smelling roses!  I had never been seriously ill before this came along.  But, today I can truly say, “it is well with my soul”, because whatever happens, I am confident that God’s plans for me are for good and not for evil”

So, if you are facing tough times in your own life, Persevere! Keep putting one step in front of the other trusting that God will give you the strength for the next step.

I have to tell you there were many times during those seven and half months that I would argue and complain to God, but I never let go!

No matter how hard it is at the moment, don’t give up to despair. Be like Job or Jeremiah who both argued and complained to God, but never let go of God. Don’t quit. Jesus Christ is coming, for you with grace or in glory once and for all, is just around the bend.

“Do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.”  Hebrews 10:35

I want to close this post with a Hawaiian version of this passage, that clearly spells out the words of encouragement from the Holy Spirit, and quote Winston Churchill as he gave a masterful speech facing thousands of British citizens in a pouring rain, as Germany was getting closer to overtake them. After waiting over an hour, he stepped up to the mike and said very simply, “Whatever you do, don’t give up! Don’t ever give up!”  With these words he stepped away.

Kay den. You guys wen make lidat, an no scared. So den, stay make lidat, an no give up! Cuz God goin give you guys plenny good kine stuff, fo no give up. 36 You guys gotta hang in dea. An afta you guys do everyting dat God like you guys fo do, den bumbye you guys goin get da stuff he wen promise.

Today’s Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oOLfx1hAQE