Don't Give Up

A friend shared the following story with me. It has a message that seems to be needed by all of us at various times. I hope it encourages you in whatever struggle you’re facing right now. Poppy
Coaching Women to Grow in Christ

            “Twenty years ago, I battled in the courts to prevent my ex-husband from being alone with our two girls, ages two and eight.”
            She explained that her eight-year-old daughter refused to be in the house when her father visited and stayed in the backyard until late at night to avoid him.
            “After the divorce, my ex-husband took me to court four times to either eliminate child support or allow him unsupervised visits. The barrage of harassment from his lawyer was nonstop for several years.
            “Finally, his lawyer sent me a letter threatening to take my children away if I didn’t allow the girls’ father to have unsupervised visits. Their case sounded bulletproof.  I would never win.
            “I lay on the bed, my heart pounding like a jackhammer, and talked to God. It’s okay, isn’t it Lord? You’ll keep them safe, won’t You, if they’re alone with him? Because I can’t do this anymore.  I give up.”
            “The next day was church, and I found a seat halfway down the center aisle.  A young visiting pastor stood on a low stage by the pulpit. He walked down the aisle, stopped diagonally two feet in front of me, and began his sermon.
            “For some of you, life may be caving in. I have a word from the Lord for you.”
            “I waited, wondering what he was going to say.”
            “Then, in a quiet voice, he said, ‘Don’t ... give … up.’
            “He repeated the same words, slightly louder this time. ‘Don’t … give … up.’
            “He gave no scripture reference, told no Bible story. I glanced around the room. How were others reacting to his peculiar preaching style?
            “He said it a third time, louder. ‘Don’t … give … up.’
            “A few people sat up a little straighter in their seats.
            “A fourth time, even louder. ‘Don’t … give … up.’
            “By the sixth time, his voice was quite loud. ‘Don’t … give … up.’
            “He kept going, twenty times without pausing, until he was shouting at the top of his lungs. ‘Don’t … give … up!’
            “I looked over at the church secretary who was going through a divorce. I hope Jen is listening to this.”
            “Don’t … give … up!” The pastor’s voice thundered around the room.
            “I noticed a student in the high school group. Kids at school were bullying him. Michael really needs to hear this.”
            “Don’t … give … up!” 
            “An older gentleman who had just lost his wife to cancer stared down at his lap. Mr. Hernandez should pay attention, I thought.”
            “‘Don’t … give … up!’ The pastor’s voice was deafening.
            “And then it occurred to me. Just the day before, I had told God I was ready to stop fighting and give my abusive husband visiting rights with our children.”
            “Don’t … give … up!”
            “I started to cry. I won’t, Lord.”
            I realized I was not alone.
            Nor are you.
            Your heavenly Father is with you.

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