Read 2 Timothy 4:5–8

These days the words “Let’s just quit” are household expressions. A marriage gets shaky and hits a few hard jolts—“Let’s just quit.” When a personal dream or goal in life is met with hurdles and hardship—both goal and dream are soon forgotten. Before long we begin to resemble Rome in its last days—a magnificent shell of outward, impressive stature...devoid of inner strength, soft and mushy at the core, desperately lacking in discipline and determination.

What is needed are believers who, regardless of the press, remain faithful to proclaiming the message of grace to others.

Paul urged Timothy with these words:

You should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you. As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:5–8)

Are you facing some difficult battle today? Don’t run! Stand still...and refuse to retreat. Look at it as God looks at it and draw upon His power to hold up under the blast. Sure, it’s tough. Nobody ever said the Christian life was easy. That’s certainly true of ministry. But God never promised you a downhill ride. He offers something better—His own sustaining presence through any trouble we may encounter. And what’s at stake is that others still need to hear the gospel. Today. Tomorrow. Next month.

Ask the Lord to give you the resolve and strength required to go the distance. Someone’s eternal destiny is counting on it. Don’t quit.

Devotional content taken from Good Morning, Lord...Can We Talk? by Charles R. Swindoll. Copyright © 2018. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries. All rights reserved.

The full devotional can be purchased at https://www.tyndale.com/p/good-morning-lord-can-we-talk/9781414380681.