Do you want to give up? Tired of trying to do anything good in this world? Feeling like it all doesn't really matter, or even if it does what can little old you do? I have felt this way a lot in the last eight months, and I have doubted my place in the big story God is telling. Maybe you feel the same.
There is a moment towards the end of The Two Towers where Sam speaks truth into the life of a dejected, beaten Frodo.
He transports him and us to a new place when He reminds Frodo of the old, old stories the ones worth remembering.
He strongly reminds Frodo why people in those stories never gave up, why they kept going.
Sam says:
“Because there is something good in this world worth fighting for!”
The Apostle Paul said:
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord the righteous Judge, will award unto me on that day " 2 Timothy 4:7-8 (NIV)
There is still good in this world worth fighting for, never forget that!
I've felt this way over time while still doing something, even if it's a fraction of what I feel I once did.
The big blows are having ministry opportunities I thought I was doing well in taken away suddenly while the small blows are getting further into my 20s and going "did it matter?" and "What's next?" or seeing the end of one chapter or another that you saw.
My answer to the first question is that "it does" even though it isn't something grand and wonderful or at least in appearance. To the other question... I'm still trying to figure that out and learning that's actually okay... well... not necessarily okay with me though.
I'm in the middle of reading this, along with a couple other books:
http://www.planbbook.com/index.html
I got the idea to read that from someone my age that I'm simply in awe of... which leads me to think, "What's the matter with you?" while also thinking "If someone that amazing is going through the question of 'What's next? What now?' then maybe I'm okay too."
On Paul, that dude had SO many reasons to give up and yet reasons to continue, which are summarized in "Love God, Love People" and his call to tell people about Jesus no matter what becomes of him.
Anyways, the Story of Starfish comes to mind, even as I may not be throwing as many or as often as I once could or feel that I am... or maybe I'm just throwing different ones.
I guess it's like Hebrews 13:2 "Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!" or "Don't stop helping and loving others, you never know how you're blessing God and others."
When you want to quit, keep going... and don't forget that you're not alone and getting up is easier and more fun with friends!
Posted by: Alexander Wilhelmsen | May 11, 2013 at 10:44 AM