Enough is Enough

When do I just Give in or Give Up?

This is a tough question, and it is one of those questions that if you asked 10 different people you would get 10 different answers.

This would seem to be the $100 question, but is it really as subjective as it seems? Is there a way to see the difference more clearly than how you “feel” about the situation? I believe there is. I believe the difference is all in who benefits most from the answer. Let me explain.

When we consider “giving in” to someone or something, we need conditions: What’s in it for me? Otherwise, why give in? There needs to be a benefit to justify the reason to give in, or why bother, right?

What then about “giving up”? We “give up” when we “feel” we can do no more. We give up when we feel we have nothing left to give. Whether we have not gotten our share or enough, or we feel that we never will (like things will never change) then we can justify giving up.

Here is what I believe the real question is: “Who gets the glory if I give-in or give-up?” WHO? If I am the primary beneficiary – I no longer have to try so hard, I have no more left to give, I can’t see this ever changing…that is all about you. If God get’s the glory then neither happens.

We can fight for what IS right, and demand change. We are not supposed to fight to BE right to change someone or something else. Faith fights for what is right, feelings fight to be right. Knowing the difference changes everything.

End of Your Rope?

Do you feel sometimes (or all the time) like you just can’t go on any more? Like you have physically gotten to the end of your rope? Maybe you feel like Zacchaeus – you are just too short to fit in or get what you need. We have all probably felt this way at some point or another. Why?

Because we try to do too much, have too much, want too much, and we try to do it all alone. We want to be content but we just can’t find it. We don’t want to get complacent, but it seems hard to avoid it…AAAAUGHHH!!! Yea, me too!

The world says we can buy, find, or compete to get what we really want, and once we do we will have all we ever needed. Until we get there or get it ourselves, and then there is a newer model or a better version of what you just got. That is not fair!

Maybe you are using everything you think you have, and just don’t seem to be getting anywhere? Or have anything left? Maybe you are just using the wrong rope by which to get what you think you need? Wrong rope? Nice analogy pastor man…but I want you to think about this:

“Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:12 (NIV)

We were not designed to go it alone…we are really better together. Two people can get each other’s back by standing together, and add a third (maybe Jesus?) and the difficulty to break your rope becomes much harder! You were not designed just for you to get as much as you can and face all that comes at you alone. Relationships are the most valuable resource we have, and living them out in community is the purpose of the local church.

What is missing to keep you from running out of rope might not be that you need more of your own, but that you need to have others in your life that make your rope stronger...just saying.

Be Blessed

Are We There Yet?

How long is this going to take? Is there a limit to how long we must wait? Patience is difficult to say the least.  I mean seriously, who likes to wait?

We live in a time in history that we can get to anything almost instantaneously if we have access to a computer. Our need for speed is getting a little out of control, and waiting seems to be something we are trying to do away with. Why do you think waiting is so hard?

We want something, and we want it now! Waiting is what people have to do who want what we already have, right? Does this always work for you? Have you ever gotten what you thought you wanted and then realized that you needed more or something else instead of or in addition to? I really dislike that!

Is this actually a contentment thing? Are you content? Does waiting bother us so much because we think we know what we need to be “better” and the sooner we get it, the faster things will be or get “better”? Well does it all get better? Does it? Compared to what? Comparison is the enemy of contentment, so comparing to anything doesn’t matter or help.

What is the real problem? 

Well, when we decide all of the “what” and “when” in our lives, we are playing God. We have superseded God’s will and timing with our own. He knows us best, and He knows when the best time for us to get something or have something happen will be, right? But know that God also does not say that if you wait you will get what you want - That just makes God a genie with bad timing. Look at this passage:

“I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.” Psalms 40:1-2 (NIV)

Notice the Psalmist states that he was struggling…but that with God’s help he was able to get through and get to a safe place. Trouble and trauma happen, they are part of life. But with God’s help and in His timing we can get through them. Often times we don’t know we need something until it happens…just saying.

So maybe waiting is not such a bad thing after all...just depends on who you are waiting for...make it Him.