The Cross Keeps Me From Giving Up

The Cross Keeps Me From Giving Up

Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. –Hebrews 12:3 (NIV)

Come and linger with me at the Cross. As we linger and see Jesus there, we find what we need to persevere when things get hard so that we won’t grow weary and lose heart. Consider him . . .

When you feel sorry for yourself because your life is hard and you want the easy way out . . . consider him. Consider the difficulty of his life of poverty, never having a home of his own, depending on the kindness of others. See the pain of rejection as those who welcomed him with palm branches later called for his crucifixion. Consider him and do not lose heart.

When you feel forgotten by God and by those you thought cared about you, when you long for the closeness of someone who cares . . . consider him. Consider what it must have been like in those moments on the cross when his Father turned away and he was forsaken. Consider what it was like to be rejected and ridiculed by his own family and the people of his hometown. Consider him and do not lose heart.

When you feel tired and you want to give up . . . consider him. Consider how he spent the whole night in prayer, agonizing over the path he was about to walk. See him sweating drops of blood. Watch him endure the trials and torture after a night of no sleep. Consider him and do not grow weary.

When you feel abused and you want to fight back . . . consider him. Consider his humble responses to those who lied about him and spit on him, ridiculed him, and beat him. Consider him and do not grow weary.

When you feel fearful about the future and you want to find hope . . . consider him, who for the joy set before him endured the Cross. Whenever you are tempted to give up, look to the Cross and see the price Jesus paid so that he might call you his very own.

Faithful, enduring Jesus, in my weariness and discouragement, I often just want to rest and have the hurt and difficulty disappear. But I see you on the cross, and as I consider your courage and commitment in the face of difficulty and even death, you encourage me to never give up.

DIGGING DEEPER