It is said that in the heat of a battle during World War II, Winston Churchill gave a speech that consisted of one sentence. He said, “Never, never, never, never give up!”
I don’t know if that’s really the only thing he said, but I do believe the Holy Spirit is speaking that one thing to many of us today. Don’t give up, because God has so much in store for our lives.
Don’t stay stuck! It’s very easy to want to give up when things get hard. Sometimes people get stuck where they are and don’t know how to get out, so they think giving up would be easier. It may be they feel they’re not smart or talented enough … maybe something traumatic happened to them … or they may have failed at something or made terrible mistakes in the past.
But the Holy Spirit anoints us to press in, to press on and go through to our victory, even if things don’t go the way we planned. Failure does not mean there are no more options. You can learn from past mistakes … history is a good teacher. Try again … if nothing else, you’ll learn what works and what doesn’t work and go from there. You can turn your obstacle into an opportunity to grow wiser and mature spiritually.
God wants us to live a good life. However, there is no elevator ride to a good life. Trust and perseverance are a must. John 10:10 tells us that “the thief comes in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). The Holy Spirit will lead us one step of faith at a time into the good life God has planned for each of us.
New beginnings. There will always be obstacles to overcome. There will always be “issues” to get past. But there will also be do-overs … second chances … new beginnings. It’s never too late; just don’t give up! God is all about fresh starts. He forgives our sins, our mistakes and failures when we repent. We need to learn to forgive ourselves as well. Stop remembering what He has forgotten and enjoy your life. You don’t have to keep paying for your past, just receive His forgiveness and go on. You are a new creation in Christ! (See 2 Cor. 5:17).
Because of that, all things are possible with God. The Holy Spirit leads us, one step at a time, and gives us resurrection power to enjoy our lives even when our circumstances are not so enjoyable.
Of course the enemy will throw up all the roadblocks he can … that’s just who he is. But with the Holy Spirit leading the way, you don’t have to get stuck in a difficult moment or season. Stay focused, determined and obedient and He will lead you through.
That is the key—obedience. Work with the Holy Spirit. Yield to His guidance and don’t resist Him. How many times has the Holy Spirit prompted you to do something, but because it doesn’t feel good you resist His lead? For example, He may encourage you to give up certain friends. But you love them … and you want to be loved, so you ignore that nudge in your heart. But God just wants to lead you to better, healthier relationships. He is always looking out for your best interest.
In-between time. It’s the “in-between” time when you will have to persevere. And whatever happens during your “in-between,” know that it is an opportunity to grow stronger in your faith and relationship with the Lord.
When the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart while I was making my bed one morning years ago, He told me I would travel the world teaching His Word and have a large teaching ministry. But there was definitely an “in-between” period for me. I had to learn some things … like how to be in authority by being under authority. I had to learn submission and humility … and I had to forgive.
I remember one time during my “in-between,” when I held on to the leg of my desk and cried because I wanted to run. I begged God to help me to stay put. Thanks to the Holy Spirit’s help, I persevered and endured several years of testing, growth and development, and eventually began my full-time ministry at the age of 42. But it didn’t happen overnight for me. It didn’t happen so quickly for Moses, David, Ruth or Paul either. It won’t happen in a snap for anyone, but if you won’t give up, God’s plan for your life will happen.
Even if you’ve had a bad foundation in life you can have a new beginning … a do-over … a fresh start—and a great finish. Just be determined to never give up!
Joyce Meyer is a New York Times best-selling author and founder of Joyce Meyer Ministries, Inc. She has authored more than 100 books, including Battlefield of the Mind and Get Your Hopes Up! (Hachette). She hosts the Enjoying Everyday Life radio and TV programs, which air on hundreds of stations worldwide. For more information, visit joycemeyer.org.
