Sometimes it is hard to hold our chins up and keep going - even in the smaller endeavors in life. We get frustrated when things don't go right. Then we allow this frustration to cloud our minds. We may begin to doubt ourselves. What once seemed trivial has now stymied our progress. We stop moving forward.
That is the way I felt about three weeks ago. The laptop I borrowed to start blogging again was a pretty old one. Alas, after only two or three uses the little laptop ceased to function. I was bitterly disappointed.
This morning was a different story. By the time I woke up I had already made up my mind. I didn't want to stop posting to this site. So here I am on my Kindle tapping away with my thumbs. It isn't the most convenient way to go; but it isn't impossible either. There is usually more than one way to get something done.
I know this is trivial compared to some obstacles others might face. In the grand scheme of things, it isn't that big a deal at all and I should not have even let it go this long. We all face hurdles in life and some are more serious than others. And yes sometimes something or maybe a series of things happen and we reach the point where we don't want to try anymore. What once seemed a believable goal is suddenly out of reach.
God would not want us to feel that way! He is our Heavenly Father and He only wants the best for us. He wouldn't want us to give up. God wants us to succeed so that we can do good works for Him.
Besides, how can we glorify God when we are known as quitters? Consider Colossians 3:17 - "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." If we wear the name of Christ we should live our lives in such a way as to honor Him. We should always strive to do our best. The words "whatever" and "everything" means there are no exceptions.
So whether we are working on a personal goal, like sticking to a budget or a professional goal like boosting our productivity, we should keep working on those goals. We should do our best. All the time. Don't stop.
If we go off our budget one weekend, we shouldn't just lay it down and quit trying altogether. Pick up that budget and try again - commit to doing better the next week. If we have an off day at work and fall below our goal, we shouldn't get discouraged. Let's not beat ourselves up. Everyone has an off day now and then. Pick right up again the next day - try a different approach - and go for it again!
I am not saying we should all go and try out for the Olympic ski team. I am saying we represent God in this world. Jesus told us we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. How can we win others to Christ if we don't do our best - if we are known as quitters?
Back to what I was saying at the beginning, I know it is easy to get discouraged. It is easy to be distracted. We will mess up sometimes. We tell ourselves all sorts of things to justify stopping what we started. Stopping is easier than going. Why fight it? I have done this to myself many times. Yet it really isn't the right thing to do.
Sometimes circumstances are beyond our control and maybe we have to change directions. There may be times when we must take a detour or maybe rest a while. We may have to take a different path altogether. But God never wants us to just stop in our tracks. We don't glorify Him by doing that.
Have you ever watched a toddler trying to learn to jump? At first she bends her knees and propels her body upward as she throws her arms above her head. After the first few times she may make it to her tip toes. She may lose her balance and fall.
But she really wants to jump - so she keeps trying and trying and trying some more. Finally one day as she pushes her body upward with as much energy as she can muster both feet leave the floor!! For that split second she is in the air. She has done it! She squeals with delight and for the next several days not only does she tell everyone she meets, she proudly demonstrates her newfound skill.
We learn when we try. We learn more and more if we keep trying. We gain strength. Our determination turns into enthusiasm. The learning, the growing, the enthusiasm-- all that stops when we stop trying.
I had rather learn to jump, hadn't you?
"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do,
do all to the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31)
Christ above all things,
Robin
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