I Give Up!

Let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.

I HAVE FELT IT, and I have heard it:

“Why bother? It’s just going to fail anyway.”

“Why call? They won’t come.”

“Why try? It’s like beating my head against a brick wall.”

“This wasn’t worth the work.”

“All this effort—for this outcome?”

“I give up.”

Giving up is easy. Giving in takes no effort. There is pain in the struggle, especially in the struggle to live a holy and healthy life. There is work, hard work, involved in taking back darkness.

Our youth pastor calls himself a “hell rescuer,” based upon Colossians 1:13: “He has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son.”

Have you ever looked at a police officer after a shoot-out? a firefighter after he has carried someone out of a burning building? a search-and-rescue leader after she has rappelled down a cliff to save a stranded and injured person? a lifeguard after he has saved someone from drowning in the ocean? They look tired! Rescuing is hard work!

Being God’s instrument in his work of rescuing others takes tireless prayer and an intense drive to “be there”—inviting, reminding, giving healthy options, and training. It is work.

Exhausting? Yes!

Rewarding? Yes!

Necessary? Definitely!