Never Give Up

“Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from beginning to end. He did not give up because of the cross! On the contrary, because of the joy that was waiting for him, he thought nothing of the disgrace of dying on the cross, and he is now seated at the right side of God’s throne.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭2‬ ‭

Sunday my pastor preached a message entitled “Are You a Cheerleader?” He shared that in sports, the cheerleaders continue until the game is done, and sometimes even louder when their team is down. They want to encourage the players to keep trying. So often as believers we give up cheering ourselves and others on before half time because we feel like the battle is too big or we are down too much.

Jesus is our example. He could have given up. He could have called it quits at the garden when He knew Judas was coming. He could have said ”Forget this” when the crowd was crying crucify Him, the soldiers started beating Him and all but a small group of followers were still hanging around. When they put Him on the cross, hammering in the nails, He could have called the legions down to save Him. But that is not who He is. He counted it all joy.

I’ll be honest, I am not sure I count it joy when I am facing the hardest times in life. I also know my hardest day has been a drop in the ocean compared to what Jesus suffered from the garden to the grave. He kept His eyes on the prize, and that prize was each of us!

I know my focus tends to be on the trouble, not the outcome. It is hard for me to focus on what I’m waiting for when I’m in the process of walking through the lesson and often don’t even know what is on the other side of the wait.

What I can know for certain is my ultimate wait is the eternal life with God. I can keep my focus on that and know Jesus already overcame death. His victory is already complete. He is seated at the right hand of God. He is in me and I am in Him. For that I too should never give up.

Lord, You know I’m am quick to look at the defeat, not the victory that still is to be attained. Help me to keep my focus on You and not the issues that try to overcome me. You have said in You, I am more than an overcomer. Let me follow Jesus’s example and never give up.