Have you ever been stuck? Have you ever hit a place in life that seemed like a dead end... like you no longer had any options?
I've been there many times, and I'm sure most people have. But I am so grateful that over the years God has taught me that even when we get stuck, there is no situation too difficult for Him to handle!
Let's start by looking at the story of Joseph in the book of Genesis. The Bible says he was the favorite of his father's 12 sons, and his brothers were very jealous of him because of it.
One day Joseph shared with his brothers a dream he'd had. In his dream, they were all bowing down to him. Needless to say, it didn't go over well!
As a result, the brothers got together to decide how to get rid of Joseph. First, they threw him into a pit to leave him there to die. But later they decided to sell him into slavery to a band of traveling Ishmaelite merchants. They then devised a plan to convince their father of Joseph's death.
As you may know, this story ends triumphantly. Joseph becomes second-in-command to Pharaoh, is eventually reunited with his family, and all is forgiven.
What happened to Joseph is proof that no matter what you go through in life, there is always hope. You can fulfill God's purpose for you because all things are possible with God!
But the part of his story we really need to focus on is what happened in between the pit and the palace. Joseph's life took several turns during that time. But because of Joseph's faith in God and his determination to persevere no matter what, he never gave up!
Quitting Is Not an Option
In our own lives, we may fall into a pit every once in a while. It could be a pit of sickness, financial lack, relationship issues or other problems. Whenever that happens, you need to be determined that whatever the situation may be, you will not give up!
Always remember, in order to have a good testimony of what God has done, we must first pass the tests. Jesus even told us:
"...In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world. [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding]" (John 16:33 AMP).
It is inevitable that you will go through hard things. Sometimes you might even feel like giving up. But if you can just hold on and trust God through it all, He can restore you. He can take all the bad and make good of it (see Romans 8:28).
It is said that Winston Churchill gave the following speech to the graduates at Harrow School in 1941: "Never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense."
Churchill said those words during World War II, and I believe the Holy Spirit is speaking that one thing to many of us today—"Don't give up, because God has so much in store for your life!"
It's very easy to want to give up when things get hard. Sometimes people get stuck where they are and don't know how to get out, so they think giving up would be easier.
They may feel like they're not smart enough or talented enough; maybe something traumatic happened to them; or they may have failed at something or made terrible mistakes in the past.
But the Holy Spirit anoints us to press in, to press on and go through to our victory, even if things don't go the way we planned.
Failure does not mean there are no more options. You can learn from past mistakes—I've found history to be a good teacher. When all else fails, try again. If nothing else, you'll learn what works and what doesn't work and go from there. You can turn your obstacle into an opportunity to grow wiser and more mature spiritually.
God wants us to live a good life; however, there is no elevator ride to a good life—trust and perseverance are a must.
In John 10:10, Jesus said, "The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows]." The Holy Spirit will lead us one step of faith at a time into the good life God has planned for each of us. Our part is to take those steps... and never give up!
Get Spirit-filled content delivered right to your inbox! Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.
Dr. Mark Rutland's
National Institute of Christian Leadership (NICL)
The NICL is one of the top leadership training programs in the U.S. taught by Dr. Mark Rutland. If you're the type of leader that likes to have total control over every aspect of your ministry and your future success, the NICL is right for you!
FREE NICL MINI-COURSE - Enroll for 3-hours of training from Dr. Rutland's full leadership course. Experience the NICL and decide if this training is right for you and your team.
Do you feel stuck? Do you feel like you’re not growing? Do you need help from an expert in leadership? There is no other leadership training like the NICL. Gain the leadership skills and confidence you need to lead your church, business or ministry. Get ready to accomplish all of your God-given dreams. CLICK HERE for NICL training dates and details.The NICL Online is an option for any leader with time or schedule constraints. It's also for leaders who want to expedite their training to receive advanced standing for Master Level credit hours. Work through Dr. Rutland's full training from the comfort of your home or ministry at your pace. Learn more about NICL Online. Learn more about NICL Online.
