So Noah did everything exactly as God had commanded him. Genesis 6:22
It is easy to decide you are going to do something; it is another thing altogether to stick with it. I have met a lot of people who are full of good intentions; they are ready to change the world no matter what it takes. Then things get hard and the newness of the project wears off and most people start jumping ship. Everyone is ready for the fun, the excitement and the glory, but when things start to get difficult and monotonous they lose energy and give it up; off to the next life changing venture.
If our intentions are ever to become worthwhile in practical application we must learn to endure and persevere. There is joy and feasting at the time of harvest, but much toil and work must be done first to get there. Somehow we forget this concept, we think that changing the world should be easy; if the task is God given surely He would make the path smooth right? Wrong. I would venture to say that if what you are doing is not saturated in adversity then it is probably not worthwhile. I once heard a preacher say in a sermon, “If everything is going your way, you better make sure you are in the correct lane!”. God does not make our tasks easy; instead He equips us with the power and ability to overcome.
Have you started something that God has put upon your heart? Were you enthusiastic and now as time has passed you have lost vision and steam? I urge you to stick it out. When the nights are long and the way is tedious, stick with it. When the goal seems unattainable and discouragement is beating down on every side, ask God for strength and press on through. It may be of the utmost importance that you do. What would have happened if Noah had slacked off or given up the task of building the Ark
I am reminded of a poem that meant so much to my mom and dad that they framed it and placed it in the family room of our house; it goes like this:
Don’t Quit
When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest, if you must, but don't you quit.
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest, if you must, but don't you quit.
Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don't give up though the pace seems slow--
You may succeed with another blow.
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don't give up though the pace seems slow--
You may succeed with another blow.
Often the goal is nearer than,
It seems to a faint and faltering man,
Often the struggler has given up,
When he might have captured the victor's cup,
And he learned too late when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.
It seems to a faint and faltering man,
Often the struggler has given up,
When he might have captured the victor's cup,
And he learned too late when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.
Success is failure turned inside out--
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far,
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit--
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far,
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit--
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.
- Author unknown
