What to Do When You Want to Quit
//Kenneth W. Hagin
One of the most important lessons to learn in life is to stay where God has called you—especially when everything inside you wants to quit. God will help you when you're where He wants you to be, doing what He's called you to do.
In the Bible, when people were where God told them to be, they were blessed. God called Abraham to a certain land and blessed him there (see Gen. 12:1–3). God told Elijah to go to the Brook Cherith. And at that particular brook God provided for him during a time of famine (see 1 Kings 17:3–6).
Naaman was told to wash in the River Jordan. He would have preferred to wash in some other river. But if he had gone to any other river in Israel or Syria, he would not have been healed. Only when he did as Elisha commanded and washed seven times in the River Jordan was he cleansed of leprosy (see 2 Kings 5:1–14).
When we are in the place God has for each one of us, we position ourselves for victory. What do we do, then, when we believe we are where God wants us, but it seems as if all hell has broken out around us?
First Corinthians 15:58 says, "Therefore, my dear brothers, STAND FIRM. LET NOTHING MOVE YOU. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain" (NIV 1984). You could read the last part of this verse, "your labor in the Lord is not without reward."
It can seem easy to quit when we don't like the way things are going. But it's when we stand firm and refuse to move that we'll see the victory. When the enemy comes in like a flood, although it can feel as if we're drowning, we don't have to stand in our own strength. God promised in Isaiah 59:19 that He would lift up a standard against our enemy.
In Ephesians chapter 6, the Apostle Paul tells us about the spiritual armor we've been given to use to battle our enemy. The first thing he admonishes us to do is to "be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might" (Eph. 6:10). We are promised in First Corinthians 10:13 that God will not let us be tempted beyond what we can bear. But when we're tempted, He will also provide a way out so we can stand up under it.
Paul goes on to say in Second Corinthians 1:21, "Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ" (NIV 1984). When we put our trust in the Lord and we are where He wants us to be, all of Heaven's resources are at our disposal.
Some people are always chasing the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. To them, it always looks better someplace else. They are constantly packing their bags and going to what look like greener pastures. But once they get there, they run into the same problems they left! At some point, they will have to learn how to stand firm in the midst of their problems.
Let's make up our minds that nothing will move us off of God's plan. No opposition that comes against us is greater than the supply God has for us. It doesn't matter what we are facing. If we will just stand our ground, we will come out victoriously!
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FAITH NUGGET: The Secret to Success I wonder how many people have been at the right place for a time but got discouraged and left too soon. Through the years, I've seen some people go through a great trial of faith and stay put. And ultimately, they came out on top. On the other hand, I've seen people quickly pack their bags and leave when opposition came. These people never really succeeded. They moved out of God's plan for their lives and were never able to get back on track. The secret to success is staying right where God has placed you even when circumstances, people, and situations are coming against you. When you are in the center of God's will, His provision, protection, and deliverance will always be there for you. |
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Want more encouragement on standing strong during hard times?
Go to http://www.khm.com/6x7o and read the article "Fighting the Fight—Running the Race" by Kenneth W. Hagin.