rMag

If We Do Not Give Up

Megan Brouk

My eyes were getting bigger as they peaked over the mountain of study guides in front of me. A groan escaped my lips. It was never going to end; I was sure of it. I would never finish studying. I would be trapped in front of these books, forever!

I will admit that I am a bit of a procrastinator. I once took a personality test that summed my dilemma up quite nicely: I get bored easily. I am super excited about a project at the outset, but seeing something through to completion has never been my strong suit. I could feel that aspect of my personality coming out in full force as I sat in front of this stack of Advanced Placement study guides. I had decided to take three of these tests—two months before the test dates. This wouldn’t have been a huge problem if I had taken these courses recently, but it had been a couple years. I had a lot of reviewing to do.

I finally reached the point where I just didn’t want to study anymore. No matter how much I studied, there was still so much more to do! It seemed like I’d never be able to make a dent in that massive amount of studying … especially in such a short time frame.

Sometimes I feel this way about life. I get sick and tired of “being good” and doing what is right. Sometimes it looks as though it’s never going to pay. It’s as if I am working toward nothing. If I am overwhelmed and discouraged when there are only a couple months of intense studying, I guess I should not be surprised when I become discouraged in life. There are so many things that I want to do … so many dreams I want to see fulfilled … but they all require some “if-then” commitments. If I work, if I improve, if I wait, it will all come together. But, like I said: I get so discouraged. What if I am doing all this for a reward that will never manifest itself?

Apparently, I’m not the only one who has felt this way. Paul addressed some tired and discouraged people in Galatians 6:9: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

This is a promise I am learning to lean on everyday. Though I cannot see it now, there is something in the bigger picture that is going to make all this work worth it! My experience with the AP tests taught me a lot—not only about the subject matter, but also about the confidence and blessing that come with perseverance.

Pressing On

Knowing that I struggle has brought me to another realization: there is something causing me to struggle, something holding me back from my goal.

Most of us experience this struggle. What holds you back from your goal can be anything from your past to your concerns of the future, but we all have something that hinders our pursuit of righteousness. It can be as “simple” as an inundated schedule or as complex as a broken, guilty heart. What preoccupies us doesn’t have to be something inherently bad; in fact, it can be something good and godly.

However, we are called to move past what stands in our way. Hebrews 12: 1-5 charges us with this:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.

It is both comforting and a bit alarming that verse three warns against becoming weary. It is comforting in that I know I am not alone in this struggle and alarming because clearly this Christian life is going to be anything but easy. Actually, it’s going to be extremely tiring! We’re reminded in verse five that we have not struggled to the full extent. We cannot give up; we must continue to press on toward the goal.

Verse one tells us to throw off what is hindering us—just get rid of it. The recipients of the letter weren’t the only ones who needed to do this; the author included himself as well. “Let us,” he states. Clearly, the author of Hebrews had a thorough understanding of the Scriptures, but he still had to keep pressing forward.

It is a constant struggle, but we are not alone! The Author and Perfecter of our faith comes alongside us in this struggle, making it possible.

I wear a reminder of this on my finger every day. Most would call it a purity ring, but to me it is more than that—it is my own Ebenezer. In 1 Samuel 7, after the Israelites had miraculously defeated the Philistines, the prophet Samuel set up a rock as a reminder of the Lord’s intervention and mercy: “Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying ‘Thus far the Lord has helped us’” (1 Samuel 7:12).

To me, my ring is my Ebenezer. It is a reminder that my life has been surrendered to God, not only in the area of sexual purity, but in every other area as well. It also reminds me that this surrender is not easy, and that I struggle with it on a daily basis. But I do not struggle alone. To think that the Author and Perfecter of my faith is there to help me is one of the most comforting thoughts in the world.

Finding Support In the Body

We also should find support from our Christian brothers and sisters. The Christian life is not intended to be lived on your own. Far from it! It is too difficult. We are here to help each other along. This is not to be some passive, “Hey, great job.” It is to be creative and driven by innovative thoughts. The writer of Hebrews instructs us in this way:

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:24-25)

We are to actively push one another to God. This requires a few things. We have to be real with one another, we have to be open to confrontation, and we have to be involved in one another’s lives. In being real, we cannot hide what we are struggling with from the church. For some of us, this means trusting our brothers and sisters with the burdens and secrets of our souls. For others, it means creating an environment of trust and security. It means abstaining from all pretenses of judgment. Also, we must be open to confrontation. Instead of becoming defensive, we must learn to accept confrontation with grace. Perhaps most importantly, we must be involved in one another’s lives. How can we hope to help one another if we don’t share our struggles and triumphs? It is not going to be easy, but we already knew that!

So, the next time a mountain of books is set in front of you, before you start counting the hours remaining before your untimely demise, remember that the reward will come … if you do not give up. And when it comes to life, know that you are not alone. Remember that you are held by your heavenly Father and that He has provided the family of believers to come to your aid. Most importantly, remember that our reward is sure. We must press on and not give up the fight.