Finding Strength in Adversity: Don’t Give Up

I saw this photo of stuffed animals I sent to Romania, and it caused a knot in my stomach. I sent these stuffed toys to Romania with missionaries; they had tags with Jesus Loves You in their language. 

Those were tough times.

But the one thought that came to mind was “PIVOT” (as in the Friends episode) and do not to give up.

One of the tactics Satan uses against us is to confuse, overwhelm, and exhaust us to the point of giving up. 

It is undoubtedly the way it was in my own life. Satan tended to place boulders in my path – too big for me to see around, too big for me to crawl over, and too big for me to lift and throw out of the way. Now, I know that God has the power to crush the things in our way and tell the mountains and boulders to fall, but – sometimes, for whatever reason, He doesn’t.

Toxic people stay, toxic situations do not change, and difficult things continue to be difficult.

So, the way God helped me deal with my frustrations was to show me a way around the issue. 

Case in point:

My marriage was horrific, but I was bound to hold on, praying that God would intervene. My heart desired to serve the Lord somehow, but it was a challenge. Sometimes, my husband would ignore me, but sometimes, he tried to stop me at every turn, throwing boulders in my way to discourage and keep me from doing what my heart desired. 

Boulder after boulder would be thrown in my way. There would be nights that he would destroy everything that I had done, kicking the projects all over the room in a drunken rage, giving away all of the things I had saved money to buy to send with missionaries, and harassing me as I tried to talk to people in need on the phone. 

Everything you could think of was placed in my path.

But somehow, God gave me the fortitude to find a way around it. He did not remove the boulders but gave me a path around them. Whenever something happened, I would regroup and put the projects together again, repurchase items given away, and make phone calls when he wasn’t around—circumventing the thing in the path so that God’s plan would continue moving forward. 

There is no way that It was me – but God. He will not be stopped, and the schemes of Satan or man’s plans will not stop the desire to serve Him. 

So, If I could give one word of encouragement, it is that God is watching – do not give up. Do not set your eyes on the hindrance in your path, get frightened, and quit. Keep moving forward – pivot and keep going. 

In His time, God will redeem those years and honor your faithfulness.

It’s easy to say but incredibly hard to do, but remember, God tells us several times in Joshua to “Be strong and courageous – do not be afraid, do not be discouraged for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)

Do not allow someone or something to stop you from doing what the Lord has placed on your heart. He will either destroy the boulder placed in your way or show you a way around it.

Do Not Give Up.