Why you need to be ‘in it’ to ‘win it’
Sometimes, do you just feel like just giving up and relinquishing your hopes and dreams for the future? Perhaps, you have faced circumstances that were unfair. You may have been mistreated. One challenge could be followed by another. Or, you’re tired, frustrated, or your situation seems to be without an answer.
I don’t know where you find yourself today. But if there were ever a time not to quit, this is it. Pray, for God will give you the strength you need to persevere.
Once, I heard a story about a man who late one afternoon was at work in his office, and he noticed a white envelope on his desk with his name printed on it. “It must have been placed there while I was working in the warehouse,” he thought to himself as he reached for it.
Casually, the man sat back in his chair and opened the envelope. He read the paragraph slowly and was completely stunned. It was a termination notice. The company was eliminating his job as well as the entire department.
“I’ve been here for so long. What’s going to happen to me and my family now?” the man questioned in absolute disbelief. Becoming increasingly bitter and in despair, degrading thoughts paraded through his mind. “I’m too old to start over. I’ll never succeed again. I’m done,” he whispered. It was one of the most painful, discouraging days of his life.
Suddenly, the man saw a little spider crawling on his desk. So, he brushed it off with his hand. But instead of falling to the ground, the spider automatically spun a strong strand of silk to hold its weight. The man sat quietly and watched the spider, as it swung gracefully to the floor, unharmed.
After a few minutes, the man looked up and prayed, “Dear God, if a tiny spider can draw forth its God-given resources and strength from within to meet with life’s challenges… than, so can I.”
Gradually, the man’s negative thinking turned onto the positive, as he pondered, “God has blessed me with strength and inner resources. My security is not in my job. My security is in my connection with God, who has seen me through difficulties in the past, and He will see me through this setback.”
With that, the man stood up, held his head up high, walked out of his office and didn’t look back. Then, he thanked God for the new doors that he believed would be opened before him. And, in time, the hand of God, indeed, guided the man to an exciting, new career.
So move forward and strive earnestly. Don’t let a temporary problem get you off course. Right now, God is arranging circumstances for your benefit. You’re not going to be defeated. Regardless of what has transpired, refuse to give up. Learn from challenging experiences and keep on moving forward. With God, there is always a way. And when you’ve done everything you can do, God will step in and do what you can’t do.
Be ‘in it’ to ‘win it.’ Possibly, you feel as though you’re insignificant, underestimated or the most unlikely to accomplish something great. Be ‘in it’ to ‘win it.’ Continue striving and doing your best. Your time is coming, for God holds victory in store for the upright. God is going to work miracles through you, for He is preparing and equipping you for some extraordinary work in the near future. In the Bible, David was an unknown shepherd boy, and Goliath seemed unconquerable and invincible. When other people ran away in fear, young David didn’t concede. He didn’t stop or even waiver. David was confident and believed God would give him the strength to be victorious. God looks at our obedience and faith, often selecting and using the unlikeliest of choices, to fulfill His plans. And with a sling and a stone, David triumphed over Goliath, and the giant Philistine fell to the ground. (1 Samuel Chapter 17).
Your God-given dream may be taking a long time to come to pass. But you haven’t missed your opportunity. So don’t become disheartened and stop your pursuit. Be ‘in it’ to ‘win it.’ Stay motivated. It’s not over or too late. God is directing your steps. And He hasn’t brought you this far to leave you. Scripture tells us that Moses was eighty years old when God told him to return to Egypt to free the Israelites from slavery. At that point, Moses could have doubted his own abilities, felt inadequate, and thought that his best days had gone by. Yet, God saw his great potential, and God chose Moses to make His demands to Pharaoh. Suddenly, a dream came to life. And Moses brought deliverance to the people that were in bondage. (Exodus 7:7).
In the midst of adversity, circumstances can appear to be against you. However, there should be no ‘giving up’ thoughts on your mind. Be ‘in it’ to ‘win it.’ See beyond the present moment, and let your faith guide you onward. There’s a bright future ahead for you. In the Old Testament, the prophet Elijah went to the top of Mount Carmel to pray for rain, as they were in the middle of a huge drought. Previously, the Lord had told Elijah that rain would come to the land (1 Kings
18:1). So Elijah dropped to his knees and prayed persistently and actively, expecting God’s promise to transpire. As he was praying, Elijah told his servant, “to look toward the sea” for a sign of rain. The servant went up and looked. He said, “There is nothing.” This went on time and time again. But after six negative reports of no rain, Elijah still didn’t give up. Elijah continued confidently praying, waiting, and expecting, for Scripture tells us, “Seven times Elijah said, ‘Go again.’” Thereafter, miraculously, the sky became dark with clouds, and there was rain.
(1 Kings 18:43-44). In His time, God poured out His blessings upon the land. Elijah’s prayers and his persistence had prevailed, and the answer had come.
Thus, if you are tempted to quit, do what Elijah did; Try and try again. Pray and persist with steadfast faith, and know that God will soon come through for you.
You are so close. Before long; you’ll see God’s goodness in remarkable, new ways. God is going to bring you to new places. You will feel a renewed sense of peace, joy and fulfillment. God will open new doors. You’ll meet amazing people. You will discover abilities that you never thought you possessed. And you’ll live the blessed life that God has intended for you.