Giving Up Is Worse Than Losing

It’s important for me to get exercise, so I play tennis because it doesn’t feel like a workout. I played tennis against a young woman who was probably ten years my junior and formerly a collegiate basketball player. We played the longest match ever for me–three hours long–with 15 deuces (tiebreakers in one game), tying the first set, playing two tiebreakers, and tying in sets to play to 5-5 before the park lights went out. (My apologies to non-tennis players—all this information means it was a long, tiring experience.)

Tennis is a game of skill, speed, and longevity. It’s not always a matter of how well a person can play but how long they can last (i.e., not give up before the game is over). In our Christian walk, there are times when we feel like giving up. It could be from a long series of failures and setbacks that make us wonder if the spiritual life is really worth it. Or it could be persecution from family and friends that continually discourages us. Sometimes we are just tired and need a break.

But giving up the faith is worse than anything we have lost in the battlefield of faith. We will have times where we make mistakes, miss something, or fall on our faces. We press on in the faith against the fiery torrents of obstacles because of the presence of the Holy Spirit and the promises of God to help us.

Takeaway

Just as we press to win competitively in sports and activities, we must press into God when we are wanting to give up the faith. Let us never give up even when it feels like we are losing.  Press on.

In His Service,

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