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OCTOBER 20, 2015
When You Feel Like Giving Up |
"For who is God, but the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God? — the God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless." Psalm 18:31-32 (ESV)
The alarm would sound any minute. It was time. Time to open my eyes, sit up and face another day. I started the inner pep talk immediately. Maybe today will be different. Things can’t get any worse. Well, maybe they can. No, God’s got this. I had this conversation in my head before my feet ever hit the floor.
Circumstances overwhelmed me and had begun to take a toll on my body as well. I knew God was with me; I’d known that since I was a child. But the perfect life had taken a wild detour, and I found myself in a very imperfect world.
The unexpected journey through divorce and losing my mom to cancer had been tough enough. Now looking ahead, my daughter’s label of "terminal disease" seemed bigger than God.
In my desperation, I didn’t just pray: I cried to the Lord. I needed more than another sermon illustration. More than a checklist of do’s and don’ts. I really needed to know that God was not just near, but that He would get me through this. But how?
My habit of reading the Psalms kicked in, and I fumbled to one of my favorites where today’s key verse can be found: "For who is God, but the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God? — the God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless."
As I meditated on the verses, the phrase "who equipped me with strength" captured my attention. I found myself begging: Lord, I need the kind of strength only You can give. I need this equipping process, Jesus. Will You please help me?
I dangled my feet over the side of the bed and continued reading. The Psalmist reflected: "You gave a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip" (Psalm 18:36, ESV).
The Holy Spirit prompted me through this reflection. That’s it! That’s what I need to remember! When I feel like giving up, I don’t have to comprehend the entire journey. I only need enough strength to take one more step.
I can take comfort in the fact that God’s plan is always bigger and better than mine.
Echoing the words of the psalmist, I whispered to God that the battle felt enormously overwhelming. I asked Him to equip me with strength only He can give (Psalm 18:39a).
Finally, I moved my dangling feet from the bedside and placed them solidly on the ground, knowing His power would carry me through whatever came my way that day.
Have you felt like giving up lately? Does the thought of seeing yourself on top of the mountain ahead seem too far-fetched to imagine? Let’s stop thinking about the vastness of the journey. Let’s recognize that when things seem out of control, God is always in control. He is with us, and giving us the strength to take one more step.
Dear God, please equip me with strength for today. I know I can’t walk this journey on my own. I need Your spirit to infuse me with energy for the next step. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
TRUTH FOR TODAY:
Job 23:10-11, "But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold. My foot has held fast to his steps; I have kept his way and have not turned aside." (ESV)
RELATED RESOURCES:
Rachel Wojo’s new book, One More Step: Finding Strength When You Feel Like Giving Up, will help you learn how to persevere through out-of-control circumstances and gain a more intimate relationship with Jesus.
Do you need to know how to keep going when things are going wrong? Visit Rachel’s blog where she encourages fresh faith.
Enter to WIN a copy of One More Step by Rachel Wojo. In celebration of this book, Rachel’s publisher is giving away 10 copies! Enter to win by leaving a comment here, letting us know why you’d like a copy for yourself OR whom you would give the book to, if you won. {We’ll randomly select 10 winners and email notifications to each one, by Monday, October 26.}
REFLECT AND RESPOND:
How can I remember to run to God’s Word when discouragement strikes?
Sometimes the overwhelming circumstances we face make us feel like giving up altogether. But when we begin to rely on God’s strength in place of our own, we can discover how to face those feelings of despair.
© 2015 by Rachel Wojo. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries thanks Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers for their sponsorship of today’s devotion.
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Proverbs 31 Ministries
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Matthews, NC 28105
www.Proverbs31.org
Originally published Tuesday, 20 October 2015.
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