Give In Or Give Up?

 Going through hard trials, it seems easier to give up, than to stick with it.

 The harder it gets, the more we - or I at least - want to give up. But is that what God wants of us?

 God gives us these trials to make us like Him. If we give up, we're depriving ourselves of the joy He has for us at the end of our journey.

 He's gently pushing us to the point of surrender. That's not giving up; that's giving in.

 If we give in to Him, we're opening the door for Him to do a work in us.  If we give up we're standing in the way of what He intended for us.

 Proverbs 3:11,12
My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD: neither be weary of His correction.

For whom the LORD loveth He correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

 These trials are hard; but they are meant for our good. They sharpen us.

 It's like making biscuits.  The dough has to be rolled out fairly thin, and evenly. Then it has to be cut.

 When we're being "rolled out" fairly thin, we tend to get worn out, and want to be done.  Many give up at the point of being "rolled out".

 We have stayed with it through the "rolling out", but now comes the being "evened out".  That's not easy to go through, and we want to give up.  We like to "stick to the pin"; but that makes it harder for ourselves.

 Now, many of us are at the point of being "cut"; and it would be easier to give up.  But God wants us to give in.  He wants us to yield.  Now comes the time to decide.  Give up? or give in?

 Yes it's hard. But it's also worth it. The good outweighs the bad.

                                                               When We See Christ

Oft times the day seems long, our trials hard to bear,

We're tempted to complain, to murmur and despair;

But Christ will soon appear to catch His Bride away,

All tears forever over in God's eternal day.

Refrain

It will be worth it all when we see Jesus,

Life's trials will seem so small when we see Christ;

One glimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase,

So bravely run the race till we see Christ.

 Sometimes the sky looks dark with not a ray of light,

We're tossed and driven on , no human help in sight;

But there is one in heav'n who knows our deepest care,

Let Jesus solve your problem - just go to Him in pray'r.

 Life's day will soon be o'er, all storms forever past,

We'll cross the great divide, to glory, safe at last;

We'll share the joys of heav'n - a harp, a home, a crown,

The tempter will be banished, we'll lay our burden down.

 Through Christ, it will be worth it.  We can't do it on our own steam. "But there is one in heav'n who knows" and He will see us through. 

 It may look as though there is no end to the trials. But rejoice anyway. Rejoice He has counted you worthy to bear this trial, and to be like Him. 

 Rejoice In The LORD

God

 never moves without purpose or plan

When trying His servant and molding a man.
Give thanks to the LORD though your testing seems long;
In darkness He giveth a song.

I could not see through the shadows ahead;
So I looked at the cross of my Savior instead.
I bowed to the will of the Master that day;
Then peace came and tears fled away.

Now I can see testing comes from above;
God strengthens His children and purges in love.
My Father knows best, and I trust in His care;
Through purging more fruit I will bear.

O Rejoice in the LORD
He makes no mistake,
He knoweth the end of each path that I take,
For when I am tried
And purified,
I shall come forth as gold.

 He has a plan in it all.  So, which is it? 

Give up? or give in? 

 I'm giving in and going to see what He will do through all this. 

 Isaiah 30:18

And therefore will the LORD wait, that He may be gracious unto you, and therefore will He be exalted, that He may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for Him.

 Psalm 27:14

Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

 Psalm 52:9

I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it: and I will wait on thy name; for it is good before thy saints.

     In the service of my Father

             Hallie