NEVER GIVE IN
James 1:2-4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Joe had been in camp all week, and we had had a good hunt. We had several close calls and had released one arrow but did no harm to the bull it was meant for. Now we were on the last afternoon’s hunt and we were just enjoying an afternoon stroll.
Joe seemed to be content with just enjoying the beautiful fall weather. We heard several bulls bugle but he just wanted to keep walking. Right as darkness was setting in we heard 3 bulls bugling in a valley below us. We decided to spend the last 10 minutes of Joe’s hunt calling to the bulls.
Joe knelt in the sage and I called from 10 yards behind him. As the very last bit of light faded a bull stepped up next to Joe and he made the 5 or 6 yard shot.
Joe had enjoyed the week and was joyful even before he took that bull. He never gave up and kept me positive all week as well.
Back 7 years ago I saw an ESPN article about a Michigan football team that faced a tough run. The article read…
“OSCODA, Mich. -- The Oscoda Area High School football team hasn't won a game, or even scored a point, in four games this season. Because of that, the school district has decided to cancel the remaining games. Despite pleas from players and parents, the board recently upheld the school's earlier decision to end the season…”
Winston Churchill was once asked to give a speech. He stood in front of the huge crowd and said, “Never give in—never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in . . .”. Then he sat back down.
Those players from Oscoda, Michigan were never given the opportunity to give it their all, to “never give up”. They will remember that season for the rest of their lives and wish that the school hadn’t given up on them.
In life we often learn the most in the defeat. If we never face defeat we never truly appreciate winning. The apostle Paul didn’t quit sharing the good news of Christ when he was thrown into prison. Christ didn’t quit when He knew He was going to the cross… likewise we must persevere through the hard times in life.
1 Peter 1:6-7 tells us that we will face obstacles and maybe even defeat…. But when we persevere, we are stronger.
6 “In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”
What are you coming up against today? God knows and He is right there beside you. He will see you through and when things get bad He will carry you if necessary. When things get tough… “Never give in—never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in.”
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