How many times have you said the words I give up, I’m quitting, I’m done, I’m finished, and I’m leaving? Perhaps we lost count of it. Perhaps we just utter those words in desperation when we are in the middle of something we couldn’t control, finish or do.
Hey, you are not alone. All of us experience that at some point in our lives. When we merely look at ourselves and our limited capacity to do things, we tend to give up when it’s hard. The good news is that God understands our weaknesses. He knew that we will stumble and falter. That’s why we need to look at Him – focus on Him – as we journey our life here on earth. Our confidence in doing things should be in Christ, not in us.
Picture this: if you try to jog for the first time, chances are, your capacity to endure is pretty short. Maybe you could only jog for five minutes and then you stop and catch your breath. “I need air and practice.”
If you try to swim for the first time, chances are, you will drink water as you dip your head into the water. Your breathing and body movements are not yet synchronized. “I need air and practice.”
If you try to play a piano piece, say, Canon in D, for the first time, your right and left hand, as well as your eyes and brain, need to coordinate so you could play it perfectly. “I need practice.”
Friends, running with endurance needs application. As God allows challenges in our lives, we need His words to tell us that these things need to happen to sharpen and make us a better person fit for His honour and glory. There is no shortcut when it comes to patience, perseverance, and endurance. We need to experience the pain of it all.
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Perseverance, endurance,and patience are all part of spiritual disciplines that I need to ask God for help more often. It's relying on what He can do through us, instead of trusting in our own ability alone that matters. A well written, motivational piece. It's nice to read your writings again, Marie! Blessings to you, my friend! Gloria
