Sometimes in our lives, we feel like we cannot keep going. The task is too difficult, and we cannot fathom scaling the wall ahead. At times, when we have hit rock bottom and are exhausted, we can see God and His kindness. His kindness picks us up again and sets our feet on level ground. I have seen this to be true in my life, and it has helped me overcome many hard times. Whether it was undergoing a lengthy medical procedure or seeing my mom being lowered into a casket in the ground, God has been with me.
Some things we face will never be fully known to others. For example, I struggle with OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder), and a person cannot fully understand the pain associated with this disorder unless they have it. I get anxious, upset, and overwhelmed when I face something that triggers my compulsions, and this can tend to be odd to others. Shaking hands with someone without OCD is not a big deal, but if you have OCD and someone wants to shake your hand, it can feel like the entire world is falling apart.
Therefore, not everyone can understand what we are going through, but God can help us through the most difficult times. He is good, and He will always lift us when we fall. We probably will continue to fall; however, He will never stop restoring us, giving us hope, and surrounding us with His grace.
The world is the reason we struggle and lose hope. Due to rampant sin, we will all face intense darkness, pain, and loss. It is unavoidable and something we will continue to experience throughout our lives. Being aware of these struggles is good because dark days will come. By being prepared for them, we will be more equipped to keep going when we feel like giving up.
The Lord tells us, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30). As Jesus tells us in this passage, we can come before Him with our weary souls. The Lord knows how terrible and cruel this world is, and He desires to give us rest.
Even though we might feel as though we should give up, we can lean on the Lord for support. He will carry us and help us travel the long road ahead. Think about what is causing you to want to give up today. Is it having to travel to a new city for a work conference or meet with a divorce lawyer? These things can make us feel like giving up and hiding from the world, yet the Lord can be our firm foundation.
There have been many times in my life when I feel unable to push ahead because of mental and physical limitations. When I hit this wall, I remember that the Lord is with me and will help me overcome this struggle. Although there will be times when I continue to fall, He will forever be by my side. Even if things continue to be hard, I will still have the promise that He will always be with me; in truth, this is the most significant promise.
God is mighty and powerful (Psalm 24:8-10). Trust Him with the situation that is ahead. Even if it is something that you feel you cannot do on your own, remember He is with you and He will give you all the strength that you need. I am facing my struggles today, and I know He will get me through the next twenty-four hours. He is good and will keep us all strong until the end.
When discussing giving up, we must also examine the reality that not everything will work out as we want. In truth, most things will work exactly as we didn’t want them to. For example, if we wanted to get a clean bill of health at the doctor’s office, we end up having worrisome lab results or having to be referred to a specialist. This isn’t being pessimistic; rather, this is the reality for most people.
When everything goes as we want, we must ask ourselves, “Am I truly following Jesus?” Toxic Christian culture has caused us to believe the lie that if bad things happen in our lives, then God is punishing us for them. However, if good things happen to us, God is pleased with us and blesses us. Neither of these things can always be deemed to be true because God doesn’t work this way in the world.
Good things can happen to people far removed from God, and bad things can happen to people walking very closely with God. One cannot say “God has blessed me, but He has cursed you” because it is not in alignment with Scripture. God loves all people and does not play favorites (John 3:16-17; Romans 2:11). If a person is only seeing good things happen in their life and is not following God, they need to question whether they are following God or following themselves. Sometimes, individuals do well in life because they pursue their wants and desires rather than God’s will for their lives.
This can sometimes feel tricky, yet the Lord is faithful and will reveal difficult things to us. Sometimes, it might be done in direct ways, and other times, it might be nonchalant. This is why we must actively walk with Jesus and ponder His will. Part of this means that we have to get comfortable with the unknown. We might not understand why something is happening or why things are difficult, but we can still trust the Lord with the present and the future.
The unknown is scary for us, but it is not the end. A day will come when the unknown will be made known to us. In truth, everything will start as unknowable to us; however, it will be transformed into something knowable to us in time. The Lord will reveal this to us piece by piece, but for now, we need to keep moving forward. We don’t need to give up when we are nearly at the end of the race.
Regardless of the mountain before you today, know that God is with you and He is your strength. He is your salvation and the stronghold of your life (Psalm 27:1). Nothing goes past His understanding, nor does anything escape His memory. Rely on Him and find comfort in His great love. When you are weary and without hope, find strength in Him. He will strengthen your weary knees and help you keep going.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Martin Dimitrov