Don’t Give Up for This Reason
BY LARALOVE
“while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Cor. 4:18
“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” 2 Cor. 5:7
“I will lift up my eyes to the hills—
From whence comes my help?
My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1-2
“Don’t give up because of what you see,” the Spirit of God spoke to me one day.
What a hard, hard day it had been. Not that anything terrible had happened. In fact, nothing bad at all had occurred. It’s just that my ministry work had been enormously challenging. Obstacle after obstacle for some weeks. Continuing on through that day. No matter how much I persevered through the spiritual battle I faced as I pressed on in following God and His will for me and the ministry, most of the hurdles just wouldn’t seem to come down. Oh, how I hated how Satan’s fiery darts came hard at me. And how no matter how much I looked at the challenges and prayed about the challenges, nothing seemed to give.
But then, that’s exactly where the problem lay. My focus was on the trial, not on the Lord. I was staring most of the time at the challenges, rather than beholding the Lord. I was looking at the ugly obstacles rather than focusing my eyes and heart on God’s Word.
Oh, how easily I could have quit. Quit following Jesus that day in my ministry work. Or just plain given up on ministry altogether given what I saw when I looked at my circumstances.
The message God spoke to me is such vital truth. Living by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ isn’t about staring at our circumstances and basing our thoughts, feelings, and actions on what we see. It’s about putting our trust in Jesus and believing He will lead us on.
How easy it is for us to give up when we focus our attention on life’s trials. But when we shift our eyes to the Lord, what relief and peace and hope and joy and love and mercy and comfort and encouragement and precious promises and amazing fellowship and beautiful compassion and wonderful wisdom and vital direction and awesome grace we find in Jesus. And in God’s Word.
Don’t give up because of what you see, friend, when you face life’s challenges. Turn your attention to God and His Word and find everything you need in Him!
Courtesy of DAILY INSPIRATION
I really enjoyed this devotional. It’s so easy to keep looking at our problems instead of Jesus, our problem solver. I’m thankful for my Savior and my salvation.