Do you ever feel like giving up?
Whether we are overextended or just plain bored, how do we never give up? Amidst life’s challenges or even lack of them, we often say, “I give up.” These words weighted with finality flow from the heart.
Just like a physical heart is comprised of four chambers, so the spiritual heart contains four chambers. They can be remembered in the acronym: WISE: the will, intellect, spirit, and emotions. The chamber of the will represents our choices. The intellect is the mind containing our thoughts. The spirit houses our prayers. The emotions include our feelings. Before we ever speak the words, “I give up,” a crack is formed in one of the hardened chambers of our inner beings. The crack is discouragement, and it leads to disconnectedness.
Courage stems from the Latin word for heart, which is cor. Consequently, to be discouraged is literally “to lose heart.” On the inside, the will says, “I will not;” the mind says, “I think not;” the spirit says, “I pray not;” or the emotions say, “I want not.” Unfortunately, when one chamber cracks, the other three follow suite. The result is a three-dimensional disconnectedness: (1) from who we were designed to be, (2) from God, and (3) from others. Much like the case with concrete, a crack separates what once was connected. In order to never give up, each of us must first reconnect in our hearts and say, “I will, I think, I pray, and I want surrender to God’s design for my life.”
When faced with an obstacle, we either give up or live up to God’s design for our lives — the unique expression of Christ in us. If we ever give up, we will never live up to who God designed us to be. The Bible calls us to never give up in three contexts that provide us the secret to enduring life’s challenges. Never give up on: (1) yourself, (2) God, or (3) each other.
King Asa was instructed: “But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded” (2 Chronicles 15:7).
This week, memorize 2 Chronicles 15:7. When discouraged, don’t disconnect. Run to God who will give you the courage to endure.
Episode 32: Never Give Up from mitchkrusetv on Vimeo.