Don’t Give Up – Part One

 “I didn’t see that coming.” Do you ever feel like that? We are not futurists with the ability to see what is coming. There is a pattern in Scripture to aid our foresight. Knowing it we can prepare us for the inevitable. 

There is a cautionary adage: “Into every life some rain must fall.”

God loves you and wants you to succeed. Therefore He wants to companion with you at all times. That is a fact even when it does not feel like it. We are assured of this:

“And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed. (Deut. 31:8)

Establish the pattern: He goes before you, He will be with you, He will not leave you, and He will not forsake you. Let those postulates serve as mental signposts on the road of life. Let this be a giant led jumbotron along that road: “do not fear or be dismayed.”

Dismayed translates the Hebrew “h?tat” which means don’t give up.

The children of Israel were on the banks of the Jordan about to enter the promised land when these words were spoken to them by Moses. They were to cross the Jordan and enter this foreboding land, and have to engage in combat against the fortress city of Jericho without their trusted leader Moses. If these words were reassuring to them under such dreadful circumstances, you have reason to be assured by them under your circumstance.

Later at an ominous moment in their conquest Joshua was God’s mouth of reassurance saying: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)

There is that word again “dismayed.” By this time their fear had a new companion, fatigue. We are often at our worst when fatigued. It is then we are inclined to make bad decisions and even give up. Let that word dismayed, that is give up, resonate in your mind. Don’t consider it an option.

In the New Testament is found this encouraging triplet of truth.

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” (II Corinthians 4:17)

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.” (II Corinthians 4:16)

The application of these truths can give reassurance amid tribulation and prevent you from being, are you ready for this, dismayed. Don’t give up.