Giving Up is Not an Option

Scripture: Acts 27:13-15 (NLT)

13 When a light wind began blowing from the south, the sailors thought they could make it. So they pulled up anchor and sailed close to the shore of Crete. 14 But the weather changed abruptly, and a wind of typhoon strength (called a “northeaster”) burst across the island and blew us out to sea. 15 The sailors couldn’t turn the ship into the wind, so they gave up and let it run before the gale.

Horatio Spafford. Mr. Spafford, a wealthy business executive in Chicago, wrote one of the best-loved hymns of the Faith, lost much of his real estate holdings in the Great Chicago Fire. A few while later, he and his wife lost their daughter while trying to relocate to Europe. She drowned during the journey on the ship. The media told us that when he and his wife reached the spot where his daughters had drowned, Spafford marked that sad event with words of hope: “When peace like a river attended my way; when sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, ‘It is well, it is well with my soul.” Let those powerful words remind us that even in the storm we are raving in; we can have calm from Jesus Christ; it will be well with our soul because Christ Jesus will make you whole. So never give up; even when it feels like it is time to let go, it’s time to quit. Hold on; giving up should never be an option when you have a Savior looking out for you.

Application

When the storm is getting too hard to handle, give control over to Christ. There is no storm he cannot calm and no situation he cannot control. To keep going, we must genuinely surrender over to Him. If you are praying and asking God to help you with the struggle in your life but then after you say amen, you think of how to fix it or start worrying about it, and then you don’t honestly give it over to God. Instead, you went before God and gave him a preview of your problem and then took back control. Letting go and letting God do not mean giving up; instead, it means depending on Him. God may have the next step or direction for you to take, listen and follow His input. When we are in control, giving up becomes an option. When God is in control, giving up is never an option.

Reflection

What is God directing you to give over to Him today?

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank you for always being there for me, even when I am unaware of it. Thank you for loving me and giving me the option to be your child. Today I want to surrender _________________________ over to you, I want to leave it at your feet and trust you to take care of it. Thank you for answering my prayer.