As I approach this topic, I am aware that many of you are experiencing some crisis moments in your lives that has generated a multitude of questions. It is as if your lives have come to a standstill and there is no place to go. You say, I have listened to others as they talked about their problems but I could not imagine that one day I would be in a predicament where my livelihood would be in jeopardy.
I have told others that they could make it when they were in their crisis but now as I reflect upon those words of wisdom, I find no solace in them for me. Now what I had to say to others seems like an idle tale because I can't see the end to my troubles. It doesn't make sense to me how I can be in the situation that I am in now. I am almost begging to make ends meet, I am ready to quit.
Does the previous statement sound familiar? Well if it does, you are not alone in your plight. There are so many other people that are ready to quit. Don't quit; don't give up, just re-connect to the major power source, the Word of God (Psalms 138: 6-8). The Word of God nurtures and strengthens us in the midst of despair and trouble (Philippians 4:6-7). It is so important to know that in times of trouble, "God's grace is sufficient." (2 Corinthians 12:9)
The text suggests that the apostle Paul had experienced a time of disconnect. He was so withdrawn from himself and others that he had to resolve that he wasn't going to stop preaching Christ despite his inability to succeed at Athens in Greece. Even though Pau's set back was in ministry, he was determined that nothing was going to hold him back from the commitment that he had made (1 Corinthians 1:2). Paul had been ridiculed, imprisoned, beaten and left for dead but he was convinced that Christ would see him through all of the troubles that he had encountered (2 Corinthians 4:6-18).
The apostle Paul relied on the Lord to see him through and we must also rely upon the Lord during these troublesome times. We too must be "determined to proclaim nothing but Jesus Christ and him crucified." Don't stop praying, praising, nor proclaiming the Word of God because "he has promised never to leave us nor forsake us" (Hebrews 13:5; Joshua 1:5). We can claim the promises as set forth in the Scriptures and apply them to our present situation for spiritual power (2 Timothy 1:6-7), "Stir up the gift of God." The gift of God is the Holy Spirit, faith and joy.
Don't stop, just keep on praising the Lord, because the Scripture reads, "Let everything that has breath, praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord" (Psalms 150:6).
