Don't Give Up

“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”

Galatians 6:9  


I had a doctor appointment yesterday and my physician had just returned from an extended vacation over the holidays with his entire family, wife, children and grandchildren. Besides celebrating  Christmas and New Years, it was he and his wife’s fiftieth wedding anniversary. Fifty years I thought, wow! By looking at my doctor you would doubt he is old enough to have been married for fifty years.

I didn’t get to talk with him very long but I was able to congratulate he and his wife on a very rare achievement these days. You don’t hear of many people being married to the same person for fifty years and so when you do its important to stop and take notice. It’s been well said, “a man or woman should go into marriage with their eyes wide open and after they get married continue on with their eyes half shut.” It was Mark Twain who said, “To succeed in life you need two things: ignorance and confidence.” Someone once said, “The difference between fear and courage is five minutes.” Courage always holds on five minutes longer. Isaiah 41:10 reminds us, “Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’”

There are all kinds of books written on marriage and there are as many contrasting opinions as there are books. I have found through the years of my own marriage as well as studying the marriages of those that have stood the test of time that there is a common denominator, tenacity. By definition tenacity means, “the quality or fact of being able to grip something firmly or being very determined.”  Many victories in this life have been won by people who simply refused to quit. Genesis 2:24 (AMP) echoes this thought when God Himself said regarding marriage, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and shall become united and cleave to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” The word ‘cleave’ means to ‘weld together’ as one. As marriage goes on the ‘weld’ should become stronger not weaker. Usually when two objects are welded together and if the object breaks at some point in the future it usually never breaks at the point of the weld as the intersection of the weld becomes the strongest point. Thats what God intended for marriage, a bond only broken by death itself.  

Tenacity doesn’t just make for a good marriage. Tenacity is needed in every area of life where we desire to success. Here is something to consider today. “Victory isn’t always measured by what we conquer. Sometimes victory is achieved by refusing to be conquered.” When I think of tenacity the words of the apostle Paul in Ephesians 6:13-18 come to mind, “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.”

Often times victory is achieved not by advancement but simply by refusing to retreat! Don’t live with regret of what might have been, loved one. Determine today to refuse to give up and quit too soon. Take a stand, hold your ground, and be tenacious!


“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.”

Ephesians 6:10
 

I LOVE YOU!

Michael Osthimer

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