“Have I not commanded you be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord, your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9 (NASB)
You are going to need courage and determination to stay in the race, no matter what the circumstances might be. Remember that God did not give you a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power and love and a sound mind. It was Winston Churchill who said, “Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm,” and Chris Bradford said, “Anyone can give up. It’s the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would expect you to fall apart, now that’s true strength.”
I think back 11 years ago when I received a phone call from my daughter-in-law telling me that something was wrong with my 36-year-old son, David, asking me to meet them at urgent care. He couldn’t talk – he was having a stroke. Fast forward one month later. My daughter, 38 years old, passed out and was found by her 10-year-old son. She had had a ruptured brain aneurysm and a stroke! As hard as it has been at times through the years to not fall apart, especially early on in the darkness of night, I was able to grab on to the Rock, my Jesus, and time after time He reminded me that all things, did you hear that, all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose.
Be encouraged and remember daily that God is with you, whatever you face, wherever you go. Just stay in the race. This will take determination and courage because that is what keeps you persevering. Through all the roadblocks and ups and downs you face, it is often said that the one quality that makes a difference in the success or failure of a task is determination. Colin Powell said, “A dream doesn’t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work.”
David is about 85% back. I wish I could say the same for my daughter, Christie. She lives in an adult family home, bedridden. Some of life’s biggest questions are why and what next, but I’m not quitting. I’m staying in the race. Don’t give up. Remember that God has not given you a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power. He loves you.