Happy Sabbath, Church family,
In recent times, I had the privilege of observing the Olympic Games and witnessing the unwavering determination of athletes to persevere. This brought back some memories of a book by Kyle Idleman, “Don’t Give Up: Faith That Gives You the Confidence to Keep Believing and the Courage to Keep Going.” He shared a story about the American Swimmer Florence Chadwick. She became the first woman to swim the English Channel both ways. She also attempted to swim from Catalina Island to the coastline of California. What made her failed attempt so newsworthy was why she didn’t make it. It wasn’t the cold water or muscle cramps. It wasn’t sharks or a school of jellyfish. It wasn’t even the physical exhaustion of a sixteen-hour swim. The reason she quit was fog. She couldn’t see the coastline when the fog rolled in, and she had to leave. She was informed that she was less than one mile from the shore when she climbed into the boat. She could have persevered if she knew how close she was. Instead, she lost perspective and gave up.
The author reminded us that there are times when the fog rolls in, and we lose sight of the shore. Someone you trust takes advantage of you. Someone you love stops loving you in return. A good plan goes off the rails. Unexpected physical or financial hardships come fast and hard. When the fog is thick, it’s easy to lose perspective. We think things are worse than they are. Without realizing it, we start to feel sorry for ourselves. We quit and then blame the fog, so we won’t feel like a quitter. Some people say I didn’t want to give up on my dream to start a new business, but the economy is killing me. I didn’t want to give up on my commitment to be generous, but I have had to deal with so many unexpected health challenges. We often lose faith during difficult situations and painful circumstances because we lose perspective. All we can see is our immediate hurt. Yet, a little perspective can change everything. Two months after her first try, Florence Chadwick made another attempt. Again, the fog was quite heavy. Again, she couldn’t see the coastline but finished the swim this time. She said that when the fog rolled in this time, she kept a mental image of the shoreline and focused on that. She kept perspective and refused to give up. Hebrews 12:1 reminds us that “such a great cloud of witnesses surrounds us.” We’re invited to carry their stories in our hearts when we’re weary. But there are also witnesses whose names aren’t given. One message these unnamed witnesses might have for us is to keep perspective the next time we’re struggling with discouragement.
The next time you feel like your situation isn’t fair and you’re ready to give up, remember those who faced jeers, flogging, chains, and imprisonment. If they could find the faith to keep believing and going, then you and I, by the grace of God, can make it through our challenges. Don’t give up. God will give you enough strength for today, so remember that His grace is sufficient. Let us continue to pray for each other, especially for those who are bereaved.
Have a blessed Sabbath.
Pastor Evadne Henry
Reference
Idleman, Kyle. “Don’t Give Up: Faith That Gives You the Confidence to Keep Believing and the Courage to Keep Going” Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.