Don't Give Up

“Never ever give up” poster in child’s writing.
 

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  

Galatians 6:9


We’ve all faced moments in life (far too many) when we’re tempted to stand down, walk away, give up.  Circumstances seem to call to us to cash in our chips or wave the white flag.

  • The parent who has been praying for a wayward child, seemingly to no avail.

  • The spouse who is fighting what appears to be a losing battle in his marriage.

  • The widow trying to not get sucked into despair though her grief seems unending. 

  • The man who is out of work and tired of job-hunting and unemployment lines.

  • The church volunteer who sacrificially serves year after year yet sees few results and little thanks.

They’re trying to keep the faith…they’re attempting to do the right thing… but it’s so hard and to press on seems futile.  

To those who know such things all too well, the Apostle Paul has a word.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.


"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."  

Galatians 6:9


 

The Man Who Wouldn’t Give Up

If you’re looking for an example of that, allow me to tell you the story of a man named Adoniram Judson. Judson was sent to Burma as a Baptist missionary in 1813 where he served faithfully until his death in 1850.

During those years he established 63 churches and personally led 6000 Burmese to faith in Christ.  But it wasn’t easy – far from it.

Judson was 22 when he made the decision to leave America for the mission field. He set sail for India, but when he and his pregnant wife arrived, they were denied entrance because British authorities did not want Americans evangelizing the Hindus.

For three weeks, the two of them were stuck at sea.  His wife gave birth on that boat in the middle of a storm, and the baby died.

They were redirected to Burma where they began their ministry. For the first 6 ½ years, Judson shared the gospel every day. Not one person came to faith.  His financial supporters in America backed away and he was encouraged to come home.

Judson refused to quit.

He kept praying and kept preaching. Eventually, he was put in prison for that preaching. He was chained in stocks around the clock where, for several years, he had to sleep, eat, urinate, and defecate in that position.

His wife and three children would die in Burma.  He remarried, only to see his second wife and two children also die in Burma. 

But Judson refused to give up.

He translated the Bible into Burmese and kept sharing the gospel. After ten years there were only 18 believers. 

Still, Judson refused to give up.

A breakthrough occurred when Judson encountered the Karen people, a primitive, hunted minority scattered in the forests and jungles.  Astonishingly, he found them open to his preaching and the rest is history.

Judson was eventually joined by other Baptist missionaries who expanded the spiritual beachhead that he had established.

To this day, Burma (Myanmar) has the third largest number of Baptists worldwide, behind only the United States and India with more than 1.6 million members in almost 5,000 churches. 

Adoniram Judson did not become weary in doing good.  He refused to give up.  And, at the proper time, he reaped a harvest.

Let me encourage those of you who are facing impossible situations to remember his example.  Even more, to follow it.

Keep praying.

Keep hoping.

Keep trusting.

Keep sacrificing.

Who knows?  You may one day experience a breakthrough.

 

PRAYER

Lord, as I read about Adoniram Judson, I’m inspired.  His story fills me with the courage to press on and not give up.  Whether I see the miracle I’m hoping for or not, may my perseverance tell its own story.


 
 
 

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