Don’t close the door on your dreams just yet

It was the first game of the new sports season, and a grandmother and grandfather drove across town to a ball field to watch their grandson play in a baseball game.

It was the first game of the new sports season, and a grandmother and grandfather drove across town to a ball field to watch their grandson play in a baseball game. Stuck in traffic, they were late getting to the game. And when the couple arrived, they quickly walked across the well-manicured green grass onto the field, sat down on the bleachers and turned to look at the scoreboard. It read, “19 to 0.”

Most of the grandson’s baseball team was playing on the field. Then, they spotted their grandson sitting on the bench with some of his teammates, wearing their new, navyblue uniforms. The other team was up to bat, so the grandfather walked over to his grandson, gazed once again at the scoreboard, shook his head, and said to the boy, consoling him, “It doesn’t look too good for your team, does it?”

Unhindered, the boy, sporting a blue cap, replied, “Grandpa, it is only the first inning; we haven’t even come up to bat….the game is not over yet!”

When you start a project or a new endeavor, do you finish it all the way through to the end?

If times get tough, do you lay your dreams to the side and walk away?

As you set goals, do you leave them half-done?

Scores of challenges may be coming against you. Perhaps, you’ve stumbled and fallen, and now you feel weak, inadequate and afraid. Or you might be frustrated and dispirited, because things haven’t gone the way you wanted them to go and you’re thinking about leaving, stopping or dropping out entirely.

But, continue on… “finish.” God has given you something special to accomplish. One of the most important things you can do is to finish what you have begun.

Do not get discouraged and close the door to your dreams just yet. Don’t give up on yourself, for you have been through too much to stop now. Be tenacious and follow your heartfelt dreams and commitments through to completion. If you keep on persevering and not get distracted or veer off the course that God has for you, you’re going to have the victory!

The prize is not always given to the swiftest, but to those who endure to the end. Thus, get up, try again, take another step forward, and with thankfulness pray, “God, give me the grace to finish what I have started.”

Remember, it doesn’t matter how or where you start off, it is how you finish that counts!

I recall the Biblical story about David and Goliath. Everyone was afraid of Goliath, because he seemed unconquerable and invincible. When other people ran away in fear, young David didn’t concede. Instead, David took the needed action, in faith, regardless of limitations, uncertainties or discouraging conditions.

As David and Goliath confronted each other; there you have huge Go

liath with his armor and shield and a small Shepard boy, David, with only a sling shot and a pouch of stones. But, David was not distracted, as he kept his focus on God. He was confident and believed God would give him the grace and the strength to defeat the giant.

David then drew near the Philistine and said to him, “You come to me with sword, with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied … This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand… and all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel … it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.” (1 Samuel 17:45-47).

The narrative resumes, as Goliath moved in to destroy David, but David quickly ran out to meet him. Then, David reached into his bag and slung one of his stones at Goliath’s head. That small stone found its way through a hole in Goliath’s armor, hitting his forehead, and the giant fell to the ground.

So, let’s not retreat and run away from challenges. Alternatively, let’s step forth and go toward our challenges, as David did, and our giants (or in our case, our stumbling blocks) will fall. Commit to ‘finishing what you started.’ God has prepared the way for you, and He will help you overcome what is in your path.

Your God-given potential is tremendous, so get your motivation and enthusiasm back. Don’t lose your passion. Are you determined to succeed?

Then, you can succeed. Know that when you are confronted with obstacles, they can be part of the course that leads you to your divine destiny.

In the Bible, Paul wrote these words to young Timothy: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7).

Accordingly, let us be a light to those around us and finish the “race” set before us. Whatever we need, let’s look to God and He will graciously provide. Regardless of what your current situation may be, no matter what area of your life you want to turn around, God wants to bless you. You’re closer to your goal than you think; you are almost there, so keep going. God is a God of completion.

With Him, you are more than a conqueror, and you will complete the task and finish your race strong!