Feasting at The Table - Can Giving Up Be Good or Bad?

 One of the things we always say here at ZJoyVI is giving up is not an option.

I tend to say that, I hope you know, to encourage people who are struggling to survive in a world that is being cruel to them, to hold on, be strong, rise above the challenges they’re facing, to keep on keeping on.

So based on the question that was asked, can giving up be good and bad, here we are today feasting at the table - diving into the Word of God and attempting to shed some light on this mantra.

The first thing we can agree on is that giving up can be a time of refreshing.

The Bible supports this. 

Isaiah 43:18-19 KJV “Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.”

Ecclesiastes 3:1 & 6 “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: a time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;”

So there is wisdom in knowing when to let go.

I am in that season right now, where I find that giving up or letting go has done me well. I must admit, it didn’t feel good at the time, but trust me, it gets better. Hallelujah.

So I ask you the question: have you ever been there? Where you find that something or someone you were hanging on to was actually holding you back and since you let go you started to grow and be renewed and be more at peace?

It’s almost like you were blocking your own blessings from God by holding on to that situation.

So we see that giving up turns out to be a good thing in this case.

Surrendering, Family, brings renewal.

  

Many times we find ourselves fighting battles on our own, trying to accomplish a thing on our own, and we more often than not run into obstacles.

The Bible tells us in Isaiah 40:31 “but they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

Family, on our own, we are bound to fail. When we surrender our plans to God, it leads to renewed strength and fresh opportunities. 

This thing called power and control, the idea that we have that we must be in charge, do what I say, my way is better than your way, gets us into bales of trouble. It leads to abuse, domestic violence, broken relationships, confusion and strife.

So in this case, we are encouraged to give up that need for control and rely on God’s power and His timing.

   

When we do this Family, we put ourselves in the position to embrace renewal. Oh what a feeling!

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

So yes: Give up those old habits, mindsets, forget about past  circumstances that brought you pain and led to heartbreak, and make room for new opportunities, new blessings and that much needed transformation in Christ Jesus.

We adopted the mantra here giving up is not an option. So let’s dissect that now. 

Can giving up also be a bad thing?

We just spoke about the benefits of giving up. Let’s now explore the downside.

We know that God is with us at all times right? We know that He is our Help, correct? The Word of God encourages us not to fear or be in despair. Agreed?

So why when we get into a difficult situation, the first thing we tend to do is give up? We throw our hands up and declare, I can’t get this done, it’s too hard, I don’t understand, I’ve had enough, I’m fighting a losing battle, I’m not doing this, this person is incorrigible - they will never change. Huh?

Can we see the danger in this attitude? 

Galatians 6:9: “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

What does that tell us? Keep on keeping on once you’re going on the right path. Many times we miss our breakthrough because we give up too soon. 

We get frustrated because we’ve been working on this particular project for what seems to be the longest time and we are not being successful. We get frustrated, tired and we give up.

Guess what? In this case, suppose we do not adopt the mantra - giving up is not an option? What can happen?

We can miss out on the promises of God. 

Remember what the Word of God says:

James 1:2-4 “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

And Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

So keep on keeping on Family. You’ve got to be in tune with the Holy Spirit to know when to give up and when not to give up. Amen?!

You will know when to persevere when you go to God in prayer and seek His guidance and wisdom in that particular instance. Very often we find that when we persevere through a particular troublesome relationship for example, in God’s time, we experience renewal and rewards.

James 1:12 tells us “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”

We see here that when we are going through trials and tribulations and we give up, that can be bad, as it prevents spiritual growth. 

The Bible teaches that persevering through difficulties shapes our characters and builds our faith.

That’s why this is one of the more popular scriptures quoted by many. But do we put it into practice? We have to end on a positive note.

Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; And lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he shall direct thy paths.”

As we say colloquially, when you say one, you have to say two. There’s not a blanket answer to the question, is giving up good or bad. 

In fact the answer to the question, can giving up be good or bad, is - giving up can be good and giving up can be bad. It is for us to seek Holy Spirit’s guidance in that particular situation and allow Him to show us what to do.

For the most part, or I should say, in all circumstances, we can agree that giving up or surrendering our own plans or understanding and turning things over to God, is always a good thing.

His plan is greater. He knows best. 

So in summary, giving up can be good when it involves surrendering to God’s will, making space for renewal, or letting go of what no longer is beneficial to us.

On the other hand, giving up can be bad when it stems from hopelessness, lack of faith, frustration, ignorance or impatience. Why? Because this hinders our spiritual growth and blocks our blessings from God.

aub - 25 September 2024

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