For centuries, one of the things sailors most dreaded was to find themselves in the doldrums. When the winds died on the sea, death often followed. Without wind to push their ship, it seemed they were just sitting there, eating all of their rations and drinking their fresh water supply, waiting for the moment when the hot sun beating down on the water finally cooked them, too. The usual solution, as far as I know from my reading, was to send one or two guys out in a dingy to tow the ship out of the doldrums with their feeble rowing efforts.
It wasn't fast, but eventually, with dogged persistence and a whole lot of effort, they could escape the doldrums and head toward their destination with a fair breeze in their sails.
Sometimes life is a bit like rowing in the doldrums. This is such an old metaphor that it almost doesn't need repeating, but I thought I would today. If you are there today, don't get discouraged! This too shall pass.
The challenge for each of us every day is to have the faith to obey God and do what He has set before us, no matter what our surroundings or circumstances may look like. Like the rowing sailors or the farmer plowing a field for planting, we sometimes have to work very hard today to see any results tomorrow. Sometimes it takes more than a few days to see the fruits of our labor, which means many great opportunities along the way for Satan to tell us to give up.
If we listen to the voice of discouragement, we will someday wake up with nothing done, dwindling in pretty much the same place we've been for a long time, and with little hope of change. It is better to do something, however small, and let God be the one to determine whether our efforts today mean something. If we are doing what God told us to do, there is a certainty that it does mean something.
Persist in praying for what you need. Persist in the ministry you are certain God has called you to do. Persist in the job you know God has called you to do. Don't give up.
It wasn't fast, but eventually, with dogged persistence and a whole lot of effort, they could escape the doldrums and head toward their destination with a fair breeze in their sails.
Sometimes life is a bit like rowing in the doldrums. This is such an old metaphor that it almost doesn't need repeating, but I thought I would today. If you are there today, don't get discouraged! This too shall pass.
The challenge for each of us every day is to have the faith to obey God and do what He has set before us, no matter what our surroundings or circumstances may look like. Like the rowing sailors or the farmer plowing a field for planting, we sometimes have to work very hard today to see any results tomorrow. Sometimes it takes more than a few days to see the fruits of our labor, which means many great opportunities along the way for Satan to tell us to give up.
If we listen to the voice of discouragement, we will someday wake up with nothing done, dwindling in pretty much the same place we've been for a long time, and with little hope of change. It is better to do something, however small, and let God be the one to determine whether our efforts today mean something. If we are doing what God told us to do, there is a certainty that it does mean something.
Persist in praying for what you need. Persist in the ministry you are certain God has called you to do. Persist in the job you know God has called you to do. Don't give up.
Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15: 58 NIV 2011)
1 comments:
Loved the post. Thank you.
Post a Comment