What would it look like if you gave up?

What would it look like if you gave up? Huh?

Have you ever thought about that? Seriously, what would happen if you just gave up? You’ve thought about it; I know you have because I have as well. You’ve contemplated throwing in the towel. You have questioned whether the struggle is worth it? Are your dreams even worth pursuing? You’ve questioned whether you have what it takes to be what you want to be in life. You are tired of all the work and effort it takes to purse anything great. You have worked so hard only to see other people succeed above and before you. All that work and you are still in the same place. Am I wrong in assuming those scenarios are just the tip of the iceberg?

Let’s face it, life is hard. You can work so hard and give so much and still feel like you will never make it. You can be surrounded by people but are never truly known. Life constantly throws you some big blows. You don’t have the money to send your kids to college or pay for the chemo treatments. The people you loved have left you; whether that is by choice or not. And then there are the lies. The lies that tell you, that you are not worth it and that your life does not matter. The lies that whisper to you to give up and that it would be better if you were not here. Are the lies true? Would it be easier for you to just give up?

Let’s say we decided to throw in the towel instead of sticking it through. What would your life look like and better yet, what would the lives of the people around you look like?

What would the world look like if you didn’t pursue your dreams? Huh? What would your city do if you gave up? How would the generational curses in your family be broken if you threw in the towel? How would your community grow if you decided you didn’t want to be on this earth anymore? Think hard about it.

You may not think that it matters, but it does. Your strength, endurance and drive matters to the world. People need to see someone who didn’t give up on themselves, or on their dreams. People need to see what it looks like to have an unwavering pursuit.

Even if you don’t reach your goal or obtain your dream, wasn’t the journey worth it? I believe so. Think about who you were before the journey began and look at you now. Don’t tell me you do not see a difference in you. Who would you be without the fight?

We have too many people giving up and not enough people fighting.

But let’s face it, the fight is hard. The struggle is real. It doesn’t always look like hanging in there is worth it, and it seems like, only “The Real Ones” survive.

I have thought about giving up many times. I have impossible dreams that take a lot of work and take a lot of out of me. I get tired and would rather just sleep this life off. Sometimes, I don’t even believe that love is real, because it has always done me wrong. I have lost everything, from possession to my mom. I feel as though I don’t always have the strength to continue in the pursuit of my purpose. Giving up just seems easier.

However, I cannot bring myself to do it. Why you might ask? Because God didn’t give up on me and he had every right to. He didn’t give up on his dream for me and he didn’t give up on his pursuit of me.

If you think about it, God had every reason to give up. He spent time intricately creating his creation and He poured his love into them. He gave them the world (literally) and they betrayed him. He forgave them instantly and still poured unconditional love on them. He made a promise with them and gave them a purpose. They betrayed Him time and time again. They rejected Him and started worshiping other gods. They broke their promise, and God had to come down Himself to fix what they had broken. He came down in a form that was lower than who he was and had to submit to the very things that He created. He humbly took the ridicule of the people that He came to save. He gave His all for his creation and they still falsely accused Him. He healed them and they arrested Him.

He was betrayed and denied by His closest friends. He was rejected by the place that he called home and was misunderstood. He was a king and they treated Him like a criminal. He was used and then abused. They tortured Him and hung him on a cross, while mocking Him. He died, went to hell and tore the place up and then He rose again.

Even now, He is preparing a place for his people. He is pursuing his creation with His reckless love. He keeps going, though His creation still rejects him. He still gives His all, even though His creation whom he loves, is swimming in evil. He still loves His creation and has a plan for them, even when they turn their backs on Him. He has the ability and the right to quit. But He doesn’t, because He knows that if He quits, we all will perish and be destroyed. He endures the suffering because he knows He is needed. Most importantly, He knows that there is a purpose in His suffering and that there is a prize on the other side of the fight. He can see what is on the other side of the struggle. The good news for us is that He can also see what’s on the other side of our struggle and what’s on the other side of us not giving up.

That is why I cannot give up, no matter how much I would want to. I have something to live for. I may not see past the pain, but Jesus does, and I can trust Him. It may not make sense to you, but it has kept me afloat. Jesus gave it all for me, so that I could live and not give up. He has put a purpose in me and no matter how hard it is, I can accomplish it. The lies would tell me that it is not worth it, but I am choosing not to believe the lies that are so vivid in my head. No matter what it looks like, I must fight to keep going and not give up, because I have someone greater in the ring with me. Jesus gives me hope of a future and I want to continue on, to see it. Yes, life is hard, and It beats me up on a daily, but I do have what it takes to stand back up and continue in this race. Everything will be okay because Jesus is with me. No matter what it looks like, I will not give up, because Jesus has not given up on me.

And when it gets hard, God will give me the strength to hang in there. His love gives me strength, and nothing can separate me from that love.

I can make it and I am more than a conqueror no matter what it looks like. I have the heart of a warrior, of a champion. I will win, it's my royal instincts to win in the end.

My family needs me. My future kids need me. My city needs me. My world needs me. So, I will not give up; I cannot give up. It is not in my blood to give up.

I pray you will not give up either. Keep fighting. Keep dreaming. Keep putting the work in. Keep praying. Keep loving. If you fall, get back up and keep going. If you need help, cry out for it. No matter how tired you are, or how impossible it seems, keep going.

Your family needs you. Your future needs you. You need you. Your city needs you. Your state needs you. Your country needs you. Your world needs you.

So to answer my question, what would it look like if we gave up? It would look like failure. And God did not create us to fail.

Prayer if needed:

Dear Heavenly Father,

You know us completely. You see us fully. You see our struggles and pain. You see our hard work and the struggle. You have put dreams in in our hearts, please help us to continue to pursue them. Give us strength not to to give up. Lord, if our lives become to hard to carry, remind us of your love. Take away our burdens and replace it with your peace and a sense of belonging. Thank you for being a great example of what hanging in there looks like. God, help your creation to know your reckless love for them. Help us to live in that love. Help us to know that you have out a prize at the end of us not giving up. Help us to hang on. Give us a fight.

In the name of Jesus we pray,

Amen