When You Want to Quit - Encouragement Café - August 12, 2015

When You Want to Quit

Café Menu for Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Today’s Special is: Press On!

Carefully prepared just for you by your friend, Jill Beran

Main Ingredient:

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:14 NIV

Entrée:

A messy house.

Disobedient children.

Unmet expectations.

Relationship struggles.

I felt like a failure in the game of life. The combination of all these struggles left me feeling like I wanted to quit. A few days passed and a new storm took place… an accident, cancer and death. I felt pain and didn’t know if I could go on.

Thankfully in the midst of my pain, God spoke to my heart and reminded me of three important truths. Friend, regardless of the size of your storm or the damage it creates, this lesson is one I, and perhaps you, need to remember.

When you feel like you can’t go on, remember to keep things in PERSPECTIVE. Our vision is limited… only God sees all and knows all. Jeremiah 29:11 tells us He has a plan… it’s one for good and has a purpose. Trust Him.

When the desire to quit comes from feelings of failure, will you join me in letting go of PERFECTION?

Friend, there is one Perfect Person and it’s not me or you. Jesus is Perfect and though we should strive to be more and more like Him every day.

We must not let our “failures” cause us to quit. Our struggles, shortcomings and setbacks can lead to growth… if we let them. Through hard times, our faith gets stronger and God’s Perfection is clearer.

Finally, when we want to quit (regardless of the reason) we must PERSEVERE. Faith is not a one-time thing… it’s a muscle we must exercise daily.

We also rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, endurance character and character hope.

Romans 5:3-4 NIV

God doesn’t expect us to arrive overnight, but He did create us to press on through the pain and endure the trials. When we do, He will strengthen our faith and bless our obedience.

As a basketball player, I always thought “Quitting is not an option!” and friend, as believers I pray you and I will say, and more importantly live, the same thing!

Take Out:

When are you tempted to quit? What role leaves you feeling defeated?

Pray and ask God to help you in these situations. Ask Him to help you persevere. On a note card, write today’s main ingredient and put it in a place where you will see it! You may also add,

But thanks be to God! He gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:57 NIV

Dessert:

Dear Heavenly Father,

Lord, sometimes life is hard. Hard things happen, the tasks You give are difficult and relationships can be challenging… in those moments help me persevere. Help me press on. Help me keep things in perspective, let go of perfection, and persevere. May I remember through YOU I can do all things. Help me live out my faith and as I endure, make it stronger Lord. Thank You Father for being faithful, so that I can be full of faith. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

© 2015 by Jill Beran. All rights reserved.

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