By Ps. Melvin
How many of us in the course of our life, in our journeys; felt like giving up?
All of us would have had one point in our lives that we don’t want to go further. Everyone has a tipping point.
A point where you explode.
Life doesn’t tell you what’s ahead. When taking decisions, we don’t see the future. We are not able to see results.
Whether in marriage, ministry, work – you slowly loose the passion and zeal to do what you want to do.
If could be an addiction that you’ve been stuck with, despite the struggles.
Heb 10:35-36
35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.
36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.
37 For,
“In just a little while,
he who is coming will come
and will not delay.”
V37 – God is never late. God is never early! He is always on time!
Let’s see one instance of God’s timing:
Joshua 6:1-6
1 Now the gates of Jericho were securely barred because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in.
2 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men.
3 March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days.
4 Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets.
5 When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.”
6 So Joshua son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant of the Lord and have seven priests carry trumpets in front of it.”
7 And he ordered the army, “Advance! March around the city, with an armed guard going ahead of the ark of the Lord.”
8 When Joshua had spoken to the people, the seven priests carrying the seven trumpets before the Lord went forward, blowing their trumpets, and the ark of the Lord’s covenant followed them.
9 The armed guard marched ahead of the priests who blew the trumpets, and the rear guard followed the ark. All this time the trumpets were sounding.
10 But Joshua had commanded the army, “Do not give a war cry, do not raise your voices, do not say a word until the day I tell you to shout. Then shout!”
11 So he had the ark of the Lord carried around the city, circling it once. Then the army returned to camp and spent the night there.
12 Joshua got up early the next morning and the priests took up the ark of the Lord.
13 The seven priests carrying the seven trumpets went forward, marching before the ark of the Lord and blowing the trumpets. The armed men went ahead of them and the rear guard followed the ark of the Lord, while the trumpets kept sounding.
14 So on the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp. They did this for six days.
15 On the seventh day, they got up at daybreak and marched around the city seven times in the same manner, except that on that day they circled the city seven times.
16 The seventh time around, when the priests sounded the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the army, “Shout! For the Lord has given you the city!
Why do we give up, even when God has promised? Even after we’ve heard Gods voice – we find hard to believe.
Sometimes – reality does not match what Gods is saying.
There are 2 reasons:
- Our perspective is often limited:
- Jericho is a small city. The issue for Joshua was that Jericho had an impenetrable wall.
- Going through the hardships for 40 years, the promised land was before him. Now he is meeting a Big bad wall.
- Notice the contradiction in v1 & v2: securely barred & delivered it to you
- God is always speaking in the future sense. God is the God of the past, present & future.
- We may be going through tough circumstances, impenetrable walls. Remember God has not forgotten.
- This particular battle was peculiar – This was one where Israel did not have to fight!
- Israel chose to believe things beyond their perspective!
- Our progress is always obvious & we want to see the fruits.
- Sometimes the things that God asks to do isn’t obvious. It’s frustrating.
- Of all the personal sacrifices, pain, trouble & waiting they had to go through, Israel had to walk around keeping their mouth shut.
- When we see progress, we tend to believe. When we don’t see progress, we get frustrated & we give up.
- Joshua did not allow the people to even talk – Possibly, because the negative talk could have ruined Gods plan. The greatest threat is our tongue.
- Gods way is not our way. Our expectations will never be met when God works. God chose a shut-mouthed Israel to win Jericho.
- God in the process of bringing out his plan, he builds. If He promises, He will perform!
Remember that God has a purpose for each one of us. Irrespective of the situation & circumstances. You may have given up on yourself! God hasn’t!
Its’ not how many times you fall down, but how many times you get up!
God will turn a situation around, when you have faith!
When you feel like quitting, no matter what – God is still the God of your past, present & future.
God will use the past to help you today to make sure His plans are fulfilled in the future.
When you feel like quitting – remember your first love. Remember your salvation. His blood was not shed in vain.
