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

Many of us have heard the old proverbial saying, “It’s always darkest just before the dawn.” This saying indicates that everything seems to be at its worst shortly before the breakthrough. However, this doesn’t seem to be just a saying, in many cases it’s true. If you were to ask any mother who gave birth to a child naturally, she would tell you that the labor pains were the most intense just before her child entered the world.

Many times we waver or faint because we have grown weary of carrying a heavy load without sensing that relief is at hand.

It is so easy to faint or give up when the challenge becomes burdensome. Companies that embrace the direct sales method like Tupperware or Mary Kay know this to be true. Therefore, they have a keen sense of the need for encouragement and motivation for their independent sales reps. They keep the team members motivated by giving incentives to the top sellers. They also solicit motivational speakers to deliver fiery testimonials of what can be attained if you work hard and don’t give up.

God sees challenging times from a different perspective. He uses them to build our endurance, trust and patience. Knowing that we have a tendency to give up when things get difficult, He coaches and mentors us through the process. Sometimes, He works through others to accomplish the task.

We really do have more potential than we realize. Many times it takes a great coach or mentor to identify it and draw it out. Coaches have a way of applying pressure over a specified period of time until they know that their client or protégé has done their best. The coach not only challenges, but also encourages, motivates and inspires when the task becomes daunting.

This point is beautifully illustrated in the movie “Facing The Giants.^[1]” Coach Taylor was coaching a football team of young men who had grown accustomed to losing. They had a defeatist attitude and didn’t see how they could ever win, especially against a winning team. In an effort to change their attitude and to build endurance, Coach Taylor took one of the most influential team members, Brock, and made him do the death crawl, which is performed blindfolded with a smaller teammate on his back. All the Coach asked of Brock was to do his best. Brock halfheartedly agreed that he might be able to go as far as the 30-yard line and maybe the 50th with no one on his back.

Not long after he got started, Brock started to complain that he was tired. Coach Taylor told him he could do it. As Brock continued to crawl, he started to buckle and complain that he was tired and hurting. Coach Taylor just kept telling him to keep going, keep driving, and not to quit until he had done his very best. Brock kept going, but he was threatening to stop and he was continuing to complain about the pain and being weak.

At this point, Coach Taylor got down on his knees and continued to encourage Brock to hang in there. Finally, with very little strength left, Brock collapsed not knowing that he had made it to the end zone. He had accomplished what he thought was impossible.

With proper coaching and encouragement, all of us can persevere through the toughest times. God has promised that He will not put more on us than we can bear (1 Cor. 10:13).

Just like Coach Taylor, God sometimes blindfolds us so that we will not give up at a crucial point. Many times we are closer to the finish line than we think.

Have you ever felt like giving up only to discover that your breakthrough was just around the corner? Make it a practice to “Hang in there even though you feel like giving up!”

Declare…

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

 —Philippians 4:13

 

^[1]Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for including this movie, Facing the Giants, Sherwood Baptist Church, Albany, GA, in my post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I mentioned.

Posted by on Wednesday, May 24th, 2017 @ 9:45AM
Categories: Inspirational