Life’s challenges persist, an undeniable reality we all face. Embracing this complexity, we’ve encountered moments of near surrender. To navigate, we must align with the design of our Creator. That is the only way to avoid giving up.
“Giving up is one of those times in life when you stop doing something that you regularly used to do” Macmillan Dictionary.
Feelings of giving up often stem from depression, frustration, and rejection. Even Jesus faced moments of burnout and doubt in his earthly journey, yet he never gave up. Can God give up on Himself?
Absolutely not. Amid pressure, Jesus chose to obey God’s will, a reminder that following God’s purpose often means letting go of our own desires.
We see in Luke 22:39-42 a typical example of how Jesus overcomes the difficulty of giving up. “Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down, and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”
Do you know why it was easy for Jesus to deal with the agony of giving up? Indeed, you said, what could it be?
It was because he had a custom of always praying. The power of prayers cannot be overemphasized.
From this scripture, prayer doesn’t stop temptation but prevents you from falling into it.
Step 1: Make a constant praying habit.
A habit is indeed a regular choice, but the idea that it takes exactly two weeks to form a habit is not universally accurate. The time it takes to form a habit can vary for different individuals and behaviors.
When prayer becomes an integral part of one’s lifestyle, it can indeed provide strength to resist the temptation of giving up, as it fosters spiritual resilience and connection.
The reasons behind someone taking their own life are complex and can’t be generalized. In Judas Iscariot’s case, various factors are speculated, including guilt and the weight of betrayal. People may consider ending their lives due to a range of mental health issues, emotional distress, hopelessness, or other personal struggles. It’s essential to approach this topic with sensitivity and seek professional help when dealing with suicidal thoughts.
A deep, selfless prayer connection with God prevents thoughts of ending one’s life during tough times. Life is a divine gift, and taking it by one’s own will goes against God’s purpose.
Just as Jesus’ prayers were unwavering and sacrificial, we should align our will with God’s, trusting His superior plan.
This is clearly seen as God replies to Jeremiah in Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you before you were born, I set you apart, I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
How to do it?
We don’t know everything about ourselves. Do you agree that is strange to say? I bet you just nodded. Yes, it is.
But, similarly to the production process, only the producer can give the original manual with explanations of how to use a product. This is an example of God as well.
Just like Jesus, it is easy and almost natural for us to want our will done in our lives, but we must always recognize that God’s will should always be sought, especially during difficult times.
God acknowledges there will be challenging periods when you feel like giving up, but he still expects us to submit to His will and trust His plans for our lives.
In the same way, he reassures Jeremiah in Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” This is what he wants us to believe in our lives.
Step 2: Praying earnestly is the solution for giving up.
Could this be a repeated point? No, it is not an error. It emphasizes the power of prayers during happy and unhappy times. You cannot afford to stop praying, especially when you are in a desperate time like Jesus, preparing for death.
Several times, Jesus replied to the Pharisees and his disciples, saying, “Verily, Verily…”. That implies the stress on the importance of what he was talking about. (John 14:12)
Again, in Luke 22:43-44, we see “An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground”.
No one wants to give up on life deliberately. Everyone expects empowerment from God to deal with their difficulty. The good news is that God is aware we cannot overcome without his strength, which is why he continually sends his angel to strengthen us.
Psalm 73:26 is a vivid example of how David was peaceful when he admitted he could not do anything alone. “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” We all need God’s strength daily.
The phrase can describe the intensity of Jesus’ internal and external pain, “his sweat was like drops of blood.” This reflects absolute agony, yet he prayed the most in such a state.
Once again, you can only deal with the urge to give up on suffering by praying earnestly and lovingly. Maintain a solid, unbreakable bond with the Holy Spirit even in bad times.
Step 3: Prayer prevents you from giving up
You are probably asking why prayer is the title of this step. Good question. The answer is already what you said, and your heart has just confirmed it.
Alluding to Luke 22:45-46, we see how Jesus repeats the power of prayers to his disciples. “When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”
There is no denying that the sorrows and pains of life can overwhelm us and exhaust us so badly that we will prefer to do things our way and sleep whilst life passes us by. I encourage you always to make prayer a lifestyle to prevent you from giving up.
We can choose a smile after the prayers, believing God is aware of the temptation and will deliver us from anything if we call upon him.
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