Don't Give Up Without a Fight!

"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed
for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned
back, strengthen your brothers." Luke 22:31-32

Three men went exploring in the jungles of Africa when suddenly and
unexpectedly two of them fell into quicksand. The third man who was on
the banks tried several times to rescue them but with no success. In the
meantime the two men in the quicksand slowly sank further down.

When it seemed like all hope was lost, one of the men began to struggle
vigorously. The man on the bank yelled to him, "Don't fight it, you will
only sink faster!" In spite of his warnings the man continued to fight,
and sure enough, he began to sink faster. Realizing that his condition
was getting worse, he still refused to sink without a fight. He
continued to struggle and fight while hearing the warnings from both
men, "Be still and don't fight it! You will only sink faster!"

Finally, just when his situation appeared to be hopeless, something
miraculous happened. Somehow, just before he was about to go under for
good, his hand touched the solid ground of embankment. He continued to
struggle until he pulled himself within a few feet of the embankment.
When the man on the shore saw that he was close enough to be rescued, he
ran to the embankment, extended his hand to him, and pulled him safely
to the shore.

After his rescue, the man turned to his friend who was still in the
quicksand. He yelled to him, "Fight! Fight with all you have! If I can
do it, you can too!" The man yelled back to him, "But I've been in here
too long! I've sunk deeper than you were! It's too late for me! I can't
make it! Tell my family I love them!" In spite of the many urgings and
promptings of the men on the shore, he refused to fight. Minutes later,
his head was completed submerged under the quicksand.

A few days later, they held a memorial for the man who died. They wept,
mourned, and expressed their sympathy for him. A few years later, one of
his children scratched these words on his tombstone, "Here lies a man
who didn't think his wife and children were worth fighting for. "

In contrast, they hailed the man who fought his way to the shore. Many
from miles around were inspired and encouraged by his determination to
live. They wrote books, sang songs, and conducted plays to spread his
story and inspire others. His family was extremely proud of him.




The hard cold reality of life is this: "No one admires a person who is
overcome by difficulties in life. They are pitied, mourned, and
sympathized." However, when a person faces the most difficult of
circumstances and fights their way out, that person is admired and
serves as a source of inspiration and encouragement for others.

It boils down to this: What do you want to be? Pitied or admired?


Prayer: My Father in heaven. There have been so many heartaches in my
life. Sometimes I want to give in to the voices inside, but Your grace
and mercy keep me going. I thank You for your peace and strength. I pray
in the name of Jesus the Christ. Amen.


Focus: God has brought me too far to give up now!