[Luke 7:19-23 KJV] “And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another? When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?”
“And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight. Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.“
I want to exhort you on the need to never be offended in God. Listen! anyone of us whether great or small can give up on God and be offended. If John the Baptist nearly got offended and discouraged; Chaley wake up before it is too late! I want to exhort you to never give up on God. He is the same God that was with you in the midnight hour! He will be with you and He will keep you.
There are prominent reasons why people give up on God. You may be justified in all the scenarios. You may feel that you have a case but in all that you do, never give up on God. You must settle that in you mind and heart!
1. Don’t give up on God when the miracle and expectation seem to have delayed!
You may be feeling offended because of hope deferred or delays in life. You heart may feel heavy and broken because you hopes have been deferred but that is no reason to give up on God. John the Baptist had waited for years to find liberation and it had delayed in coming, he wanted to be sure.
2. Don’t give up on God when people you loved and respected and looked up to offend you
Offenses may have come from someone you loved, respected, and looked up to for hope and aspirations (See Mark 9:42). There are times when the person offending you is even your pastor, the servant of God. This is a man whose voice brought you hope and you loved him. He may have offended you but don’t ever give up on God. Many pastors are also broken because of the pain caused them by people they loved and cared for but don’t give up on God. He is faithful and never fails.
3. Stay faithful when the teaching seem to be hard. Sometimes, it’s the bitter pill that heals the ailment.
The third source is people getting offended by a hard teaching (See John 6:61). Most often than not people get offended by teaching because they already had somewhere going. If you didn’t really have somewhere going, you would have asked for clarification. When Jesus preached in John 6, all the people needed to do was to ask for clarification; but they didn’t because there was something they believed. The teaching may be hard but God isn’t.
4. Don’t allow fear and fright make you build bridges that you didn’t need after all. Make God your hiding place in times of fear and fright!
The fourth reason many give up on God is fear or fright. The psalmist said “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. In God I will praise his word, In God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me” (Psalm 56:3-4 KJV). Let us learn to trust God more when we are afraid. Don’t allow fear and fright to drive you into silly decisions and choices.
Learn to trust in God and don’t give up on Him. He is the same God that have been with us and will be with us to the end. He was with us in the mountain and will be with us in the valley. He is the same God. He will carry us through. Don’t you ever give up on God! You may have come to your wits end but God is on top of his game. Keep trying!
Stay blessed!
Amen. God is still God. I will trust in Him