Tired? Don’t Quit!

by Mary Southerland | | 11 comments

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The story is told of a great pianist who was scheduled to perform for a small country town. Everyone was excited since they rarely had the opportunity to hear a famous musician. A young mother was especially excited. Her son had been taking piano lessons and showed great promise … but he hated to practice. His mother was hoping that if her son saw the great pianist perform, he would be motivated to take his music more seriously.

The night of the concert finally arrived, and it seemed as if everyone in town had come. As the young mother settled her son in his seat, her attention turned to the crowd pouring in. Everyone was dressed in their finest, and a buzz of excitement filled the concert hall. No one noticed the little boy as he slipped out of his seat and made his way down the aisle toward the stage. No one noticed the little boy as he walked onto the stage, climbed up on the piano stool and began to play “Chopsticks.”

The concert hall fell silent as every eye turned toward the stage. People began to yell, “Where is that child’s mother? How did he get on stage? Somebody get him down immediately!” The guest artist was standing in the wings, getting ready to make his entrance when he heard the shouts and saw and heard the little boy. Grabbing his jacket, the great pianist ran onto the stage, came up behind the little boy and placed his masterful hands on the keyboard beside the hands of the small child. The little boy was startled but did not move as the man whispered in the boy’s ear, “Don’t stop. Don’t quit. Keep going.” As the little boy once again began to play, the great pianist began to play as well, composing a beautiful counter melody to “Chopsticks.”

I know some of you are ready to quit. Some mountain is standing between you and the dream you thought was sure to become a reality. You think God has lost track of where you are and what you are going through. He hasn’t, girlfriend.

I know you don’t understand why a loving God would allow so much pain to saturate this broken world and perpetuate such loss and hurt. I don’t either. But God’s ways are so much higher than my ways, and His thoughts are for my eternal good – not my temporary comfort.

I am banking on eternity. I am counting on the character of God and His heart of unconditional, unmerited and undeserved love. God’s forgiveness gives me the strength to get out of bed each morning, and His peace is my comfort in the dark, lonely night.

Like you, I sometimes ask God why He has allowed a circumstance to exist. I have questioned His favor and allowed fear and worry to make me doubt His plan. And I have to tell you that I can now look back and see that He has yanked so many of my question marks into exclamation points. I am so thankful that He said “no” to so many of the prayers I desperately wanted Him to answer with “yes.”

He is God.

He is able.

He will do what He said He would do.

And He is more than enough to see us through whatever we have to face.

No matter where you are today, know that He is with you. Believe that His heart is for you. Don’t quit. He is not angry with you. You are His daughter, the apple of His eye and His cherished child.

Keep going. Ask your questions, knowing Heaven is not in a panic over your circumstances.

Yes, I know you are tired. But don’t give up. Don’t stop. Don’t quit.

Right now, surrender all of your pain to Him. Shed your tears, knowing He will collect them all and one day pour them back into your life as a refreshing rain of restoration and healing.

Let’s Pray

Father, I come to You – wounded and broken. My faith is small and my strength almost gone. I am desperate for You. I don’t understand what is happening in my life, and I am ready to give up. I want to quit. Please don’t let me, Lord. Give me Your strength and hope for today. Help me to keep going. Give me the power to trust you for every breath and every step I take.

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn

Read Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.”

Record these verses in your journal. Circle each action word and then write out the plan you need to follow to trust God.

What step do you need to take to begin again … to trust God?

More from the Girlfriends

Need help learning to trust God? Check out Mary’s E-Book, 10-Day Trust Adventure, for practical and powerful ways to step out in faith and really trust God.

Be sure to check out the FREEBIES on Mary’s website and connect with her through Skype, email or on Facebook.