Just watched Tiger Woods win the Masters...and I must say, if Webb Simpson couldn't win it (always the one we're pulling for!), then Tiger's who we were all cheering for hard at our house. What a comeback! What a reminder that so much of life is about refusing to give up, even when the way gets hard and discouraging. Even when we suffer setbacks. Because nobody, nobody, nobody gets through this life without plenty of setbacks and storms. But often it's those very setbacks and storms that ultimately propel us forward to the higher, better place God has for us.
"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." (Gal.6:9)
What a golden verse.
Our family is reminded of this basic but oh so powerful principle--simply refusing to quit even when the going gets tough--when we gaze at our little dogwood tree peaking out between the boxwoods--
Now you might not be that impressed with this little fellow, but believe me, he's a fighter. For you see, we planted this dogwood about five years ago. And he started out mighty tiny and unimpressive. We're talking about a foot and a half high. Why on earth we decided to nestle him amongst these big old boxwoods, I have no idea.
We dutifully watered the little shaver all during the hot summer months. But by his first birthday in the fall, well, let's just say he looked rather sad and forlorn. We saw virtually no growth whatsoever, but we kept watering and hoping....year after year. Still, never a bloom, not many leaves, nothing promising about this guy.
Finally by about the year three, we determined our poor little dogwood had given up the ghost. That spring, we saw no leaves, no nothing. But for some stubborn reason (or maybe it was just sheer laziness), we cut him way back and left his pitiful, skinny little trunk sticking up out of the ground. After all, why bother digging him up when he was hidden by the boxwoods.
And then, low and behold, that spring, against all odds, we saw some branches beginning to poke up just barely past those beefy boxwoods. What on earth? Was it some kind of mutant weed? It couldn't possibly be our poor, desiccated dogwood, could it? There were still no buds, no flowers, of course, but good heavens, there were a few leaves. And he'd grown high enough to peak out the teensiest bit above the bushes. Who would have thought?! We'd done nothing--and I mean nothing--to help him recover. Yet he didn't just recover; this hardy, refusing-to-give-up dogwood actually began to grow and even, dare I say it, thrive!
But this spring, oh my, we were astounded to see not just massive growth, but BLOOMS! Lots and lots of them! Beautiful pink blossoms, all in the lovely shape of the cross--the shape of death leading to resurrection life.
Who would have thought? Well, who would have thought that the most horrendous event in the history of the universe--the crucifixion of the perfect Son of God--would lead to the most wondrous event in human history--the forgiveness of sins and the salvation of lost mankind? God, that's Who.
Thank You, Jesus, for refusing to give up even when we betrayed You, denied You, abused You, tortured You, crucified You, rejected You, ignored You, disobeyed You, failed You. Thank You for finishing the work of our salvation, even though at unimaginable, inconceivable cost to Yourself. Thank You for refusing to quit ever, even now, on us, Your often disobedient, clueless children.
So today, I don't know what storms you might be enduring, what setbacks you've suffered, or what hardships you're fighting against, but don't give up. Don't quit. If Jesus is Your Savior, you have the unconquerable, infinite, omnipotent One within you and for you, and He has promised that He will finish in you that which He started. (Phil.1:6 "And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.") He is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine (Eph.3:20), so Do. Not. Quit. Who knows the harvest of righteousness and glorious good that God has for you if you will simply refuse to give up.
It's always too soon to quit. Always. Not with Jesus. Not ever. Just ask our determined little dogwood.
To God be the glory.
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