It’s Too Soon to Quit

In 2 Corinthians 4:16-17 it says, “That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!” (NLT)

There is a difference between faithful people and unfaithful people. Unfaithful people give up at the first sign of difficulty. Faithful people keep on keeping on. Faithful people are determined, diligent, and persistent. They don’t know how to quit! You know how a little acorn becomes an oak tree? An oak tree is just an acorn that has refused to give up.

I don’t have it all figured out, but one thing I know is: I am never a failure until I quit, and it is always too soon to quit. God uses tough times to test my persistence.

When I go through tough times, this verse is something to hold onto: “That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!” (2 Corinthians 4:16-17 NLT).

God is more interested in what I’m becoming than what’s happening to me. He often allows trials, troubles, tribulations, and problems in life to teach me diligence, determination, and character. The problem I’m going through right now is a test of my faithfulness. Will I continue to serve God, even when life stinks?

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9 NIV).

I shouldn’t let fatigue, pain, tough times or criticism force me off the job. Rather I need to renew my commitment to serving Christ. I can find purpose in what I'm going through. It can remind me of what Christ endured for me, keeps me from pride, causes me to look beyond this life, gives me the opportunity to prove my faith as an example to others and gives God the opportunity to demonstrate his power. I should look to see troubles as opportunities. Asking “why” is the wrong question, instead ask, "God, what's your purpose in this"? Nothing comes into my life by accident. God can bring good from every thing. The trials I encounter reveal my character, maturity, security, value and faith. God's purpose for my life will always be greater than my problems. I need to learn to trust him. 

What’s on the Other Side of My Troubles?

In 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 I read, “Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (NIV)

When a crisis hits, I need to do the smart things necessary to get through it. I need to listen to God’s Word and godly advice, to make good choices, and then to keep moving forward while remembering that this will pass. It’s not going to last forever!

The Bible says in 1 Peter 4:12, “Dear friends, don’t be bewildered or surprised when you go through the fiery trials ahead, for this is no strange, unusual thing that is going to happen to you” (TLB).

In this world, there will be times of trial and testing. It’s guaranteed! Since sin entered the world, nothing works perfectly. Everything on this planet is broken—the weather, the economy, our bodies, and even our best plans. Nothing works perfectly in this life because sin broke everything on Earth.

Isaiah 24 says, “The land suffers for the sins of its people . . . [they] have twisted the laws of God and broken his everlasting commands . . . The earth has broken down in utter collapse” (Isaiah 24:4-5, 19 TLB).

On Earth, everything is lost, abandoned, and confused. Even nature is groaning. We may even contemplate or wonder why God allowed sin and evil to enter the world; it’s because God wanted us to have a choice.

And we’re the ones who have chosen to cause evil. We’re the ones who are selfish and self-centered and cause problems in society and in our environment.

It’s good to remember or be reminded that this Earth is not heaven. That’s why Jesus taught us to pray the Lord’s Prayer—”your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10 NIV). Heaven is a perfect place with no sorrow, sickness, sadness, or stress, but we shouldn’t expect heaven on Earth. One day we’ll get there, but we’re not there yet.

So I will get through whatever trial I’m facing right now. Soon enough I will marvel at all that God did in the midst of my trouble as I look at it from the other side.

There will be more challenges to face and adversity to endure. But I can always hope in this truth: “Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18 NIV).

In summary, these troubles and sufferings I face are, after all, quite small and won’t last very long. Yet this short time of distress will result in God’s richest blessing upon me forever and ever! So I should not just look at what I can see right now, the troubles all around me, but I look forward to the joys in heaven which I have not yet seen. The troubles will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever.

Any troubles I encounter should not diminish my faith or disillusion me. I realize that there is purpose in my trials and suffering. My problems and limitations have several benefits: (1) They remind me of Christ's suffering for me; (2) they keep me from pride; (3) they cause me to look beyond this brief life; (4) they give me opportunities to prove my faith to others; and (5) they give God the opportunity to demonstrate his power. Therefore I can learn to see my troubles as opportunities.

The ultimate hope I can have whenever I experience a terrible illness, persecution, or pain is the realization that this life is not all there is. There is life after death. Knowing that I will live forever with God in a place without sin, trouble, or suffering should help me live above any pain that I face.  

Testing Comes Before Blessing

In Zechariah 13:9 I read, “I will refine them like silver and purify them like gold. They will call on my name, and I will answer them." (NLT)

Some prayers are answered immediately, but others take weeks, months, or even years. But there’s good news: While I’m praying for God’s answer, I’m going to learn some things that I can’t learn any other way.

In the waiting, there is blessing. One of the blessings is that I learn more about myself when I don’t instantly get everything I want.

Some prayers take a while to be answered. Why does it take so long? Because while I’m working on the prayer, God was working on me.

When I’m going through fire, I wonder why I have to go through it? It’s for testing and purification. As I pray about something over and over again, I face tests that reveal more about me.

God says in Zechariah 13:9, “I will refine them like silver and purify them like gold” (NLT).

Gold is tested by putting it in a big vat and heating it until it gets so hot that all the impurities are burned off. How do metalsmiths know when gold and silver are pure? When they can see their reflection in them.

Likewise, God can see his reflection in me when all the impurities have burned out of my life, after I’ve been through the fire. He says that, after he’s done the testing and purification, “They will call on my name, and I will answer them” (Zechariah 13:9 NLT).

Answered prayer comes after the test. Before every blessing, there is a test. God tests me with stress before he trusts me with success. These are the principles of persistent prayer.

God is going to test me before he blesses me. And in that test, I’m going to learn a lot about myself. If I give up praying, I’m never going to learn the lessons that help me become more like Jesus.

So, keep praying with persistence each day. And remember that after the testing, the blessing will come.

In summary, I am refined like silver and purified like gold. After that, I can call on his name, and he will answer. Some prayers are answered immediately, but others take time (weeks, months, or even years). But there’s good news: While I’m praying for God’s answer, I’m going to learn some things that I can’t learn any other way. In the waiting, I learn more about myself when I don’t instantly get everything I want. Why do some prayers take a while to be answered?  Because while I’m working on the prayer, God was working on me. When I’m going through fire, I wonder why I have to go through it? I’m learning that It’s for testing and purification. As I pray about something over and over again, I face tests that reveal more about me. Gold is tested by putting it in a big vat and heating it until it gets so hot that all the impurities are burned off. Metalsmiths know when gold and silver are pure when they can see their reflection in them. Likewise, God can see his reflection in me when all the impurities have burned out of my life. After he’s done the testing and purification, I can call on his name, and He will answer. Often answered prayer comes after the test. God may test me with stress before he trusts me with success. If I give up praying, I’m never going to learn the lessons that help me become more like Jesus. So, I need to keep on praying with persistence each day. Remember that after the testing, the blessing will come.

In the passage today, some believers were refined like silver and gold through the fire of their difficult circumstances. I need to also determine to be part of God's remnant, that small part of the whole that is obedient to him. Obey God no matter what the rest of the world does. This may mean trials and troubles at times; but as fire purifies gold and silver, you will be purified and made more like Christ.

Father, thank you for Your Word and Jesus as my savior and example. You want me and I need you in my life. Please give me Your strength for today and remind me in little ways that I can always believe in, have faith in and can trust you in everything. This includes being the authority for my life, the source of my self-worth and my hope for the future. You have my best interests in mind. So I ask you to help me to embrace the way you’ve made me; my gifting and passions. Help me to serve and fulfill the mission you have in mind for me. 

Today, I ask you for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership, my interactions with others, doing well and making a difference in others lives. I pray all these things through your Son Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Letting Trials Help to Develop My Character

In James 1:3-4 I read, “For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” (NLT)

We know the end of the story: Jesus is coming back! When he does, he will make all things right and just. And as his follower, I will spend eternity with him. Knowing how the story ends should change everything. One of the biggest ways it affects my life is that it should motivate me to use adversity to become stronger spiritually.

That’s what James says I should do while I’m on earth waiting for Jesus’ second coming: “For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing” (James 1:3-4 NLT).

I will face stress, problems, difficulties, and trouble in this life. In the time between now and when I die or Christ comes back, I should use those trials to develop endurance and become more like Christ in character.

Does becoming like Christ sound impossible? The Bible says God can do that work in us: “May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole” (1 Thessalonians 5:23 The Message).

Am I whole or am I fragmented? Am I put together, or am I falling apart? These days, everyone is feeling like we’re falling apart a little, but it’s okay. I’m not supposed to have it all together. I’m not perfect, and I won’t be while I’m here on earth. I can’t change that. What I can do is work on getting spiritually fit in preparation for the coming of Jesus Christ.

It’s important to stay physically fit and take care of my mental health. But I cannot neglect my spiritual fitness. I don’t need to be the strongest, fastest, or healthiest when it comes to being spiritually fit. I just need to keep working on it and recognize that the trouble I face is often an opportunity to grow in faith.

So with whatever I’m facing, I can turn to God’s Word and his promises. When it feels like I’m falling apart, remember that God is still working to make me more like him, and he can use even the most difficult circumstances in my life to do it.

In summary, when my faith is tested, my endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when my endurance is fully developed, I will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. I can keep in mind that Jesus is coming back and when he does, he will make all things right and just. As his follower, I will get to spend eternity with him. Knowing how the story ends should change everything. It should motivate me to use adversity to become stronger spiritually. I will face stress, problems, difficulties, and trouble in this life. In the time between now and when I die or Christ comes back, I should use trials in my life to develop endurance and become more like Christ in character. These days, everyone is feeling like we’re falling apart a little, but it’s okay. I’m not supposed to have it all together. I’m not perfect, and I won’t be while I’m here on earth. I can’t change that. What I can do is work on getting spiritually fit in preparation for the coming of Jesus Christ. I don’t need to be the strongest, fastest, or healthiest when it comes to being spiritually fit. I just need to keep working on it and recognize that the trouble I face is often an opportunity to grow in faith. So with whatever I’m facing, I can turn to God’s Word and his promises. When it feels like I’m falling apart, remember that God is still working to make me more like him, and he can use even the most difficult circumstances in my life to do it.

I face trials all the time in my current job. I am counted on and people turn to me for answers and assistance. It’s been overwhelming. Also coupled with this is that I feel our Sr. Leadership doesn’t seem to understand what’s happening and the pressures. These are all trials that I’m facing. Trusting in God that he is working through the circumstances is what helps me continue on. Today I will remember to turn toward God’s promises to help me as I feel overwhelmed by stress. I ask you Father for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership and my interactions with others. I pray this through your Son Jesus’ name, Amen.