Keep On Keeping On

by Andrew Cromwell

We’ve all seen the cartoonish depiction of the frog who is choking the neck of the stork even while he is being swallowed whole. The caption reads “Never Give Up.” There is something about that image that speaks to us because we frequently need to be reminded to keep fighting and never quit.

Life is difficult. I’m not saying that it doesn’t have its wonderful moments, but because we live in a fallen world, death, disappointment and disease are part of our reality. Sometimes things don’t turn out the way we think they should. Sometimes that job doesn’t work out. Sometimes people let us down (or we let them down). And sometimes tragedy strikes.

But have you noticed that there are some people who just keep floating to the top? Life might throw them in the drink again and again, yet they find a way to float back up and start again. I believe it is these people, more often than not, that in the end are the winners in life. They have learned the secret of not giving up. If life deals them a bad hand, they take the blow, shake it off and get up and move on again.

Too many people quit too early. They get discouraged—and we all understand why—because the wait is too long or the pain too intense or the cost is too high. But when you quit you take yourself out of the race and only the ones who stay in win the medals.

There is an interesting passage in the book of Ephesians where the Apostle Paul talks about the battle of life. He says, “and when you have done all else, stand.” Listen, sometimes you have done all the work, you have paid all the bills, you have talked to the right people and you have put in the time—but you are still not seeing the victory. That is not the moment to give up, that is the moment to stand. Don’t sit down and don’t turn your back or walk away. Keep on keeping on.

What is it that you are tempted to give up on right now in your life? The dream of your college degree? The beauty of a love-filled marriage? The joy of a significant relationship with your kids? Success at your work? Don’t give up just yet! Keep pressing, keep trying, keep working—victory is around the corner!

The best news is that Father God wants to see you find victory as well, and the greatest joy is discovering that true success can only be found through and in Him. The pastors of Kings County would love to encourage you and your family to keep on keeping on this weekend. Why don’t you visit one of the many wonderful churches in our community....don’t give up just yet!

I Quit

by Tim Howard

Back in the day, a man named David Allan Coe wrote a song which was made famous by a singer named Johnny Paycheck. The song was about the bitterness of a man who worked long and hard with no apparent rewards to show for it. The title was: "Take This Job and Shove It" He evidently reached a point where he couldn’t endure the pressure any longer and finally quit. That may only be a song but it speaks of a reality faced by many of us throughout the journey of life.

Paul the Apostle talks about the pressures he faced and what was true for him can be true for you. He said: “We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We are perplexed, but we don’t give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going.” (2 Corinthians 4: 8-9)

Paul reminds us that pressure comes from many sources. He said: “ We are pressed on every side…” You may face it in a marriage when your mate tries to remake you into what he or she wants you to be. It may come from a job that has downsized and now expects you to pick up the added workload without increasing your income. The sheer responsibilities of paying the bills, walking the dog, fixing the car, cleaning the yard and meeting the day to day necessities can weigh heavily on a person and bring them to the point of contemplating those two words: ‘ I QUIT’

The best news from Paul’s comments is that pressure doesn’t have to break us if we respond to it in God’s strength. It may bend us to the breaking point but it doesn’t have the power to crush us. When we fall under the weight, we can still get up and keep going if we put our trust in God and follow His instructions. Knowing that God is on your side is a key to the resilience and strength needed to face the everyday pressures. He is with you and will not abandon you. You don’t need to quit! You don’t need to give up! The Bible says that, it’s not just my opinion.

Don’t get me wrong! There are some things you should quit. You should quit complaining because it causes you to focus on the negative side of life. You ought to quit making excuses and start following the right path. We all should stop lying, cheating and defrauding our friends. The list goes on… Rodney Dangerfield said he contacted his father to tell him he had stopped smoking. His dad responded by saying: I knew you were a quitter! I laughed as I read that joke but there are some times when we all should be quitters. Wisdom will have to make the judgment call.

You can withstand the pressure that’s designed to hinder your progress. You may be pressed on every side like the Apostle Paul but God is with you. According to Romans 8:32; God can use anything, even pressure for the purpose of shaping and making you into a person of character. If you love God and have responded to His grace, you are a candidate for his transforming work. He says to you: Don’t be conformed to the world by yielding to various pressures. Allow Me to give you a new way of thinking so these pressures will produce something positive in you. If you do, even the greatest pressure can’t make you say: I QUIT!