Don't Give Up, Give Praise
Don’t Give Up, Give Praise!
“But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.”
2 Chronicles 15:7
Sometimes the pain of what you’re going through is so immense, you feel like there is no way that even God wants you to continue. It feels like all of your work, prayers, tears, and faith have been in vain, but I will offer to you that those feelings are temporary. Even if those feelings last for weeks or months. If you are open to allowing God to lift you out of the pit you're in, He'll restore your strength and give you additional strength to carry on.
Recently, I went through a miscarriage, and since it was my second miscarriage, I felt like God was telling me to just “Give Up!” But, then I had to think about it, would the God I have come to know and love really tell me to “Give Up!”? That just doesn’t fit His character. It just doesn’t make sense.
Although I’m not sure what His message may be for why I’ve had to continue to endure losses, but I will trust Him. Sometimes the grief and pain are so bad that I have to moan. Yes, literally I moan. But, I also say “Thank you, Jesus!” Sometimes I say it without even knowing exactly why I’m saying it. It probably makes absolutely no sense to anyone else, but I promise that when I say things to praise God, I literally feel a little bit more strength come into my body. Once I feel that little bit of strength, I want more, so I praise Him even more…louder, and guess what? I feel more strength!
I challenge you to try it when you are feeling weak, tired, hopeless, or devastated. Cry out to Him, and see that His word is true. "The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." (Psalm 34:18) I know that these are not just words, but it's the truth. Whenever I am the most brokenhearted, I feel God the most. (After I get over my pity party. ) I feel like He has me in His arms and is rocking me to sleep because I begin to feel a peace that is unexplainable even in the midst of the unreasonable turmoil I'm in and the unbelievable pain I feel.
Reflect on these words from Isaiah 40:29, “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” Ask Him for His strength today, and praise Him that it’s on the way!
But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.
(2 Corinthians 12:9)