Whenever I'm super full, I still try to finish the food that's on my plate.
When I couldn't figure out how to play the chorus of Augustana's Boston on the piano, I wouldn't stop practising till I got it.
When the world tells me my God has failed, I remember that Jesus has already overcome it.
Even though I am definitely no saint, I don't believe in giving up.
Sure, most of the time when we give up on something, there isn't much to lose - not tangibly that is. But intangibly?
There's a great deal to lose.
"[We] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us." - Romans 5: 3-5
Even in secular teachings, we can understand that suffering produces character. Most of the people we see with the best, rock-solid characters have gone through great tribulations in life. These are the people who truly understand, among countless other things, the meaning of strength, forgiveness, and hope. Character molded through suffering is probably the longest lasting and most life-changing. Suffering leads us to tap into the emotional depths of our being that is normally untouched. When the very core of our soul is shaken, the effort in rectification is almost monumental. But in these dark moments of our lives, the light at the end of the metaphorical tunnel becomes all the more emphasised - the darker a place is, the brighter a light is. This light has a name, and it is Hope.
Hope moves people to do radical things - it creates revolutionaries that cripple governments, gives courage to the lost. Hope takes fear head on and chases it out, baton and axe in hand; a roaring lion sprinting after its prey.
"Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him." - James 1:12
It is not an easy thing to remain faithful, especially when situations get tough. I'd like to encourage anyone who's reading this (it's probably just me sadly reading myself lol) never to give up when things get rough. Life's tests are your chance to grab it (by the balls) and tell it that you aren't gonna take shit. Are you going to work through the difficult, convoluted things, or are you going to wave the white flag and let life eat you alive? Are you going to leave when the the road gets dark, or are you going to light a flame and keep trucking on till you see that glimmer of sunlight?
What kind of person are you going to be?
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