Don’t Give Up!
Don’t Quit!

Matthew 14:22-32 (KJV)
And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou; bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt ? And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.

When I think about adversity and victory, I think about the struggle that we all go through in the process between the adversity and the victory. Peter certainly experienced the same in the time in which he spent with Jesus. One such time is illustrated in the passage above.

Peter, along with the other disciples had just witnessed many miracles of Jesus. People had been healed and then multitudes that had followed them witness Jesus bless five loaves and two fish and the food multiply to such an extent that they had food left over after all had eaten. What a day that must have been to witness such! Miracle upon miracle!

Afterward, Jesus told the disciples to get into a boat and go before Him to the other side while He dismissed the crowd and went alone into the hillside to pray. To the disciples it must have seemed a good plan. After all, they had been with the crowd; surely rest must have seemed inviting to them. A boat ride away from everyone must have sound like a great plan. Off they went. But the waves were rough and the boat was tossed by the waves, and then they saw Jesus walking on the sea. The disciples were frightened, thinking perhaps that what they saw was a ghost!

What happened in their minds to all those miracles they had witnessed throughout the day? Where was their faith and trust in God? Had He not given them specific instructions? Was He suddenly going to abandon them during their time of need - their time of needing a miracle?

Jesus immediately spoke to them reassuring them. Peter did step up in faith answering, “Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.” Peter had remembered the power of Jesus, and went beyond his fear and took a step of faith and got out of the boat and walked toward Jesus as He had commanded, “Come”. So long as he had his eyes on Jesus everything went great. But the moment his eyes shifted to the problem instead of on Jesus and His promises, he began to sink.

Ever get in a middle of a project and begin to sink? Most of us have no trouble beginning a job. In fact we begin with a bang of enthusiasm! But somewhere in the middle when the job becomes routine, the novelty worn away, or perhaps challenges begin pull on us, we want to quit. The task becomes hard and is no longer palatable. The end is nowhere in sight and so we do not have the “light at the end of the tunnel” experience to draw on - to feel that enthusiasm re-ignite. We, too, are tempted to get our eyes off of the promises that God has made us and no longer trust and rely on Him. We no longer wait for His instructions as ever so simple as they may be. In Peter’s case it was only, “Come”. Our focus shifts to the problem. Our energy fades and we are tempted to look on problems challenging us and try to rely on our strength and wisdom. We begin to sink…we want to quit.

Look at Peter’s response. He gives us a great example of proper response to learn from. While he was beginning to sink, he was frightened, but he did not give into feelings and just sink. Instead, he cried out to Jesus. He refocused on Jesus for the answer. Peter knew he did not have the strength. He could not rely on himself. That is the point - Peter did not give up to the strength of the waves (the challenge or enemy) or his emotions but, instead, refocused on Jesus.

I smile when I think about how many times Jesus has come to my rescue, saved me, delivered me, healed me…pulled me out of my mess when my eyes were distracted from Him. Such mercy! Refocused I was able to continue because I was once again depending upon God for everything I needed. My faith increased. My trust reinforced. And I was delivered!

If you are in the middle of a job, a project, and you have lost your focus from God. I encourage you to take another step of faith. Refocus your eyes upon Jesus. Extend your faith once again to the promises that God has given you and cry out to God for help! He always hears and responds to our prayers!

The End of the Road
Is but a Bend in the Road
By Helen Steiner Rice

When we feel we have nothing left to give
And we are sure that the “song has ended” -
When our day seems over and the shadows fall
And the darkness of night has descended,
Where can we go to find the strength
To valiantly keep on trying,
Where can we find the hand that will dry
The tears that the heart is crying -
There’s but one place to go and that is to God
And, dropping all pretense and pride,
We can pour out our problems without restraint
And gain strength with Him at our side -
And together we stand at life’s crossroads
And view what we think is the end,
But God has a much bigger vision
And He tells us it’s only a bend -
For the road goes on and is smoother,
And the “pause in the song” is a “rest,”
And the part that’s unsung and unfinished
Is the sweetest and richest and best -
So rest and relax and grow stronger,
Let go and let God share your load,
Your work is not finished or ended,
You’ve just come to “a bend in the road.”