The apostle Paul wrote, “ Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:13,14).
These words of Paul should give encouragement to all who want to live the Christian life. It seems that some get so discouraged that they are ready to give up.
In times when it seems that everything is going wrong – times when natural disasters or even in times of a pandemic – one should not give up on God.
The trick is to keep trusting in God.
Everyone gets discouraged from time to time. One should remember the prophet Elijah under the juniper tree.
He was so discouraged that he believed he was the only one left faithful to God. God told him there were 7,000 who had not bowed the knee to Baal. He was to get up and get started again.
When one gets discouraged, he must remember he is not alone. In 2 Kings 6, Elisha was approached by the enemy. His servant was afraid, but Elisha asked God to open the servant’s eyes so he could see, God was with them (2 Kings 6:15, 16).
Persecution of some form may come, but Jesus said, “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you” (Matt. 5:11,12).
One must keep trusting in God.
When a Christian finds himself discouraged, it is time to take advantage of the blessings God has given to his children. Talk to God in prayer, study his word and offer up praise in song.
Singing is not just for in the meetinghouse. It is true as the words to the old hymn “Sing and Be Happy,” many times we fail to see the “rainbow.”
Our lives are so blessed by God. We need only to look around us and we can see those in far worse situations that where we find ourselves.
If any follower of Christ had a reason not to sing and be happy, it was the apostle Paul. Yet when we read of Silas and Paul chained and in prison, what were they doing?
Notice Acts 16:22-25: “And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes and commanded to beat them. And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: “Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.”
These men truly trusted in God’s promises and pressed for the goal of heaven.
God has promised heaven to all who will obey him. If we never give up, heaven will be our home. If one trusts in God, he will study to learn more about God and what God desires of him.
He will see one must have faith in Jesus, turn or repent, confess the name of Jesus as the Son of God and then be immersed for the remission of sins.
Then one must live faithfully all the days of their life, which means they must keep trusting in God.