Don’t give up in the tough times.
Do you ever go through times when despite your efforts, things just don’t seem to get completed? Or felt like your life is not going anywhere? Often, when things are tough, our commitment weakens and soon we give up before the end of the task. While chopping up some tough old logs, I was reminded that in order to make it through, I had to show complete commitment to every swing of the axe. Even if I didn’t think it was possible, I had to remain focussed on my goal, which was to drive the axe all the way through. Some split easily, while others were so tough that the first few swings made little or no impact. These larger logs needed more work, but the goal was the same.
Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” – Matthew 22:37,40.
The greatest command is to love the lord your god with ALL your heart, soul and mind. When we read that, we see the word love and can easily bypass the commitment required. He’s actually saying there is a huge commitment expected from us. We are to be fully committed lovers of the lord, wholeheartedly, with all of our being and all of our mind. It’s saying, I’m all in, fully committed to God, holding nothing back and I’ll do what it takes to show that.
Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord,
Trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.
– Psalm 37:5
When our desire is all focussed on the lord and we commit all of our ways to Him, then He will make things happen in our lives which we could never imagine. Because God sees and rewards our commitment.God saw the commitment of Abraham, who placed his only son on the altar and was ready to bring down the knife with force. God saw an incredible commitment and rewarded him for it.
God himself is our ultimate example when He was so committed to His love for us, that He gave His only son.
Jesus was so committed that He gave His back to those who struck him and suffered and died for us. We now gain from His reward.
Our salvation is a free unmerited gift which we could never afford and could never earn. But we are rewarded for the commitment we show thereafter. Hebrews 11:6 says:
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him– Hebrews 11:6
So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.
36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37 For, “In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.”
38 And, “But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.”
39 But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.
– Hebrews 10:36-38
When you face hard times, you have something way more costly than you know. You have an opportunity to stand firm in your commitment to God. God sees you and knows your struggle. There is no shame in admitting it’s hard. God also sees when you get back up and try again and again and He will reward your commitment.
If you’re struggling to get through tough times today, stay committed to God, keep on trusting Him and keep on swinging until He brings you through.