Don't Give Up...It's not Over!!

"Being Defeated is often a temporary condition, Giving up is what makes it permanent" 

"Sometimes God has to break us down to bless us up"

Nobody has a perfect life. Everybody has their own problems. Some people just know how to deal with it in a better way. We all get to the point in our lives where we just want to give up and call a quits. Whether it be with a job, friend, relationships, our faith, trying to change for the better. It is easier to give up and throw in the towel then to stay put in a place where all hell is breaking loose and is bringing frustration,impatience, fear, doubt, and confusion. Everyone goes through hard times and they may  not be sure on how they are going to get through but God never fails us and he always makes a way out of no way.

God Did Not Bring Us This Far To Leave Us:

We all have a purpose here on earth and it is our duty to fulfill that purpose. . We must go through some fire so that we can see for ourselves that we can and will get through and make it out in one piece. I have never met anyone who is successful, powerful and stronger than ever not go through something that should have torn them apart and probably should have even killed them. Everyone wants to take the easy road through life and get to where they want to get to without going through some testing times. God has to test us from time to time see our growth/ maturity and  what we are going to do when things don't  go as expected. Are we going to lean on God and his word for our lives? Or take things into our own hands and "take care of the issue"?

The way that we respond to our circumstances and situations determines the outcome. Don't get discouraged when you have to face intense situations that you may feel you shouldn't have had to go through. There is a reason and purpose for us suffering the way that we suffer at times. If you read in the bible Jesus suffered far worse than we have and it all served a purpose that was beneficial to us. If he had not gone through what he went through we wouldn't have the opportunity to experience the Love of God, Grace, Mercy and all the wonderful things that we get to experience and inherit as children of God.

Jesus suffered tremendously for us:

• He was betrayed ( Matthew 26:14-16 )
• He was abandoned by his followers (Mark 14:50)
• He carried the sins of the world (Luke 22:44)
• He was falsely accused and rejected ( Luke 23:2-3)
• He was mocked and abused( Matthew 27:27-31)
• He was crucified ( Matthew 27: 32-56)
• His body was pierced with a spear (John 19:34)
• He tasted death for all.( 1 Peter 3 :18)

 So if Jesus can suffer and go through the persecution and torment (that we will most likely never go through) and come our victorious and with power we can come out as well. Jesus didn't want to be crucified he even asked his father ( God) in Luke 22:42; saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup [of divine wrath]from Me; yet not My will, but [always] Yours be done.” Jesus did not want to die the way in which he did but he understood that it was not his will but God's will that he had to go through what he went through. Jesus trusted and knew that God would never let him go through anything that was not going to serve purpose and power. That is where we need to be. Have the mind set that Jesus had that no matter what you go through give it to our Heavenly Father and say "not my will but your will be done. "I trust and know that this is for my own good".  At the end of the day we  go from Glory to Glory.

Why Do we Go Through Trials??

   Perseverance:

James 1:12 (AMP);¹² Blessed [happy, spiritually prosperous, favored by God] is the man who is steadfast under trial and perseveres when tempted; for when he has passed the test and been approved, he will receive the [victor’s] crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

You need to persevere through the hard times so that when you become obedient and  have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.

Because of our own mistakes ( We should NEVER test God):

Hosea 4:6 (AMP): My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge [of My law, where I reveal My will].Because you [the priestly nation] have rejected knowledge,I will also reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God,I will also forget your children.

Proverbs 19:2-3 (AMP):Also it is not good for a person to be without knowledge,And he who hurries with his feet [acting impulsively and proceeding without caution or analyzing the consequences] sins (misses the mark). The foolishness of man undermines his way [ruining whatever he undertakes];Then his heart is resentful and rages against the Lord [for, being a fool, he blames the Lord instead of himself].

We give the devil too much credit for the negative things that happen to us. Sometimes God will throw a curve ball and see how we are going to react. EVERYTHING IS NO THE DEVIL SOMETIMES IT IS US WALKING IN DISOBEDIENCE, AND WE SET OURSELVES UP FOR THE REPERCUSSION !! We are so quick to want to say that something is of the devil but I think we tend to forget sometimes that we have consequences for our actions. Yes, we changed our lives and chose to live for Christ and not go back to our old way. However there are consequences.

It's like if you smoked cigarettes for 8 years and then you quit smoking but later on in life you develop cancer, breathing issues and become very ill. You put you yourself in that situation to risk your health and life. We get signs and warnings before we do anything that could hurt us either emotionally, physically, mentally and spiritually. We're just hard headed and do not want to listen to the warnings because we let the flesh take hold of us. As my mom would say " A Hard Head makes a soft behind" and unfortunately some of us have to learn the hard way to full come to grasp with whats right and wrong.

Makes us Humble:

1 Peter 5:6-8 (AMP):  Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God [set aside self-righteous pride], so that He may exalt you [to a place of honor in His service] at the appropriate time,  casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully]. Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour.

When we become full of pride we can get beside ourselves and think that we are better than others. We even start to look down on others and have our noses in the air. The word of God says that "Pride comes before a fall ( Proverbs 16:18)" and since God wants to see us prosper and get all that he has promised us, he will have to make sure that we remember who He is and who is the one who gets all the glory. He can and will  give and take from us whatever it is that has made your head swell up if we're not careful. So calm down and have a slice of humble pie.

Protect us from what is ahead of us:

Psalms 121:5-8 (AMP); The Lord is your keeper;The Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun will not strike you by day,Nor the moon by night. The Lord will protect you from all evil;He will keep your life. The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in [everything that you do] From this time forth and forever.

We can only see down the street but God can see what is around the corner. Even though God gives us warnings and signs we still choose to ignore them and continue in our ignorance. The mercy of God is so real that he will let things happen so that what the enemy had put in our path to hurt, kill and destroy us will be prevented and  wont come to pass.  We may see it at that point and time as the worst time of our life and question God why did you allow that to happen. Later on when we look back and see what could have been the outcome we will thank God that what the devil meant for our bad God turned it around for our Good.

Develops Our Character:

Romans 5:3-6 (AMP);And not only this, but [with joy] let us exult in our sufferings and rejoice in our hardships, knowing that hardship (distress, pressure, trouble) produces patient endurance;  and endurance, proven character (spiritual maturity); and proven character, hope and confident assurance [of eternal salvation].  Such hope [in God’s promises] never disappoints us, because God’s love has been abundantly poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. While we were still helpless [powerless to provide for our salvation], at the right time Christ died [as a substitute] for the ungodly.

They say that Diamonds are made under pressure. Going through hard times shapes a person . In the beginning we feel overwhelmed and frustrated and want to say "Forget It I'm done" but when you know who you are and most important Who's you are, you don't give up that easily. You will stand flat footed on the word of God, not shaken or moved and determined to get through.

Teaches us to Lean on God:

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (KJV);  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Going through rough times shows us that we need to lean on God for everything. Some of us think that we have the power to control what we go through and we can take care of our own problems. In reality a good majority of the things that we go through we need to pray and seek God on like finances, dealing with our spouse, dealing with co-workers, our enemies ect.  Without depending on God and leaning on him for guidance we can do more damage than good because God knows all and he can direct us.

Build Our faith:

James 1:2-6 (KJV); My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.  But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

When we go through a storm and see that we can press through all the obstacles that are before us our faith is built. Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen. There is nothing like overcoming something that you thought you were incapable of and saw no resolution. The devil will take the opportune time of when you're vulnerable and alone to get into your spirit and mind and speak all kinds of things to discourage you and make you want to give up.

When you feel like you're alone and God is not there the enemy will make sure that you're convinced that God has left you to suffer and you wont be victorious. That's when you stand on God's word and say what God has already spoken over your life and  that he would never leave you nor forsake you. Its important to feed your spirit with the word of God  on a daily basis that way when the enemy tries to make you confused and discourage you can tell the devil " Whatever you have to say you can write it on the bottom of my shoe. I know who and who's I am and what The Lord has spoken for my life and I trust and believe that everything will work out for my good." Once you come out of the storm no one can tell you, you can't get through anything because you know he is the God of the impossible,nothing is too difficult and  he can do all things.

 Testimony:

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (KJV);Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort them that are in any affliction, through the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

After overcoming obstacles we should have a testimony. With telling our testimony  it should empower and help others know that they can get through whatever comes their way. Testimony's are very powerful as well as believers because when we recite our testimony we are letting the devil know that yeah I remember what I went through but I also know that God delivered me and brought me out. You can get through every and anything if you trust,lean and rely on God. Revelation 12:11 (KJV); And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

We Are Over Comers!!

So you may be going through some things right now and you do not understand why. Just remember there is a purpose for all of this. The storm does not last forever.You may not see it now but trust me when you get to where you're suppose to be you will see that it was worth it. Without going through the hard times and relying on God to help us we wouldn't know that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.