The Danger of Giving up too Soon By: Bishop T. D. Jakes, Special to BlackAmericaWeb.com
Growing up, many of us heard this phrase from our parents, grandparents and teachers: "Never give up!" While many people believe in this theory, they often fail to demonstrate it in their lives.
In this "instant" age we live in today, people are no longer interested in process. We want to get to the bottom line quick! We’re into fast foods, online prescription refills, speed dial and DSL. Even the cell phones we use are designed to accommodate quick responses to everything. We use to stop by the pay phone to place a call, now we use cell phones to take pictures, download music, read e-mail and the like, you get the point.
It is often in the very process of achieving the goals we desire in life that we quit prematurely. However, the danger in giving up too soon is that we never arrive at the place God has predestined us to be. For example, we want a marriage that will last forever, but we can’t survive the storms. We want to lose fifty pounds, but we don’t want to exercise. We want a degree, but we don’t want to go back to school. Somewhere it has to end!
Many people who are constantly challenged by failure seldom realize that it is their own fault. They sabotage their circumstances because of their attitude toward life. Often they are bitter about something that happened that they never got over.
Too many people buy into the myth that life is over when they’ve been dealt a bad hand. But the truth is someone else could take the very hand you’ve been dealt, and win with it! The same man you’re thinking about leaving, the same woman you’re cheating on, the same job you’ve threatened to leave a thousand times someone could take these same circumstances and make it work.
You’d be amazed by the number of people who have the potential to do great things, but their hearts are contaminated with bitterness. Unfortunately, they allow the past to bleed into their present and pollute their future.
It’s much easier to see the bitterness in the people around you, but it could very well have happened to you without you knowing it. Some people cover up the bitterness they hold by saying things like, "I’m not bitter, I’m careful." "I’m not angry, I’m ready." But until you call it what it is, you can never be free from it.
When Mary and Martha called Jesus to come see about their brother Lazarus, it took Him a while to get there. In fact, Jesus stopped along the way to address the concerns of other people, while on the way. When He finally arrived, rather than thanking Him for coming, one of the sisters said, "Lord if you had been here, my brother wouldn’t have died." They blamed Him and were bitter.
Like many of us, Mary and Martha failed to realize that God can resurrect anything. Just because life places you on pause, doesn’t mean you have to stay there. Just as Lazarus was resurrected, God can resurrect the situations you’ve given up on. And no matter how old you are, He promises to make your latter years greater than your past if you ask. Decide today to pursue your dreams at all cost. God has a blessing for you, a supernatural release that will push you into the great future, you desire. Remember, never give up! The best is yet to come.
This excerpt was taken from the series entitled The Favor Factor
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