Today’s Reading : I Kings 19-21; II Chronicles 17; Psalms 129; Matthew 1
Perseverance. Integrity. Tenacity.
Sometimes in life, the hardest thing that we can do is to keep going. Sometimes we feel that too much is put on us and we want to give up. We want to stop the course of our race. We want to give into complacency.
Over the summer we have been able to enjoy the fun filled adventures of sports ball. The girls have been playing softball. Oliver played basketball from October until two weeks ago. The one thing that Jillian and I constantly remind the kids to continue to play and don’t give up. We as a family made a commitment to the teams and to the organizations they need us to stay committed to the team and not give up.
Many times throughout the summer, the traveling was overwhelming. There are many times that the heat of the event was overwhelming. There were times where we lost multiple rounds of softball or basketball. But we, as a family, decided that we were going to continue to persevere through the hardships of the sport. We would not give up. We will continue to push forward for everything that we stand for. At the end of the season, we all felt accomplished and our integrity for the group didn’t falter because we did not give up.
Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. 4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” 5 And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.” 6 And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. 7 And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.” 8 And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.
I Kings 19:3-8
In this chapter of Kings, Elijah wants to give up. He just completed some of the most grueling part of his ministry. He wants to give up, he runs away and he is given comfort from God in the form of the shade under a broom tree. The broom tree has several meanings in the Bible and it is a focal point of rest, restoration, and resolution. Even though Elijah wants to give up, he still submits to God‘s will. God understands his heart and his mindset. God allows Elijah to retire from his ministry, but he sets up the way to continue his ministry.
Sometimes we want to give up. Sometimes we want to just let it all fall apart. But if we are in a relationship with God, He will allow us to continue his ministry in a different manner. He will set up everything to make a smooth transition.
No matter what you’re going through. No matter what the circumstances are, God has your best mind. God sees and hears what you’re going through. If we continue to connect with Him, he will show us ways to grow and transition to the next level of our ministry and in our lives.