Don't give Up! Psalm 17:15

Last weekend I learned a lesson on determination. Our middle daughter, Ariana, was bugging my wife and I all week about trying to learn to ride her bike without training wheels during the weekend. Finally Saturday rolled around and we ate our normal big family breakfast and I was trying to let the biscuits and gravy digest when it started. It went something like this. “Hey dad, I really want to learn to ride my bike without training wheels.” “Yes I know and we will, OK just give dad some time this morning to relax.” “OK daddy” About three minutes later she comes back in from outside. “Hey dad I really think I can learn to ride my bike without training wheels today.” “Yes I think you can also sweetie and we will try in a little. O.K” “OK” She was gone for about five minutes this time and she came back and then I knew if I was to keep my sanity I should just go teach her how to ride her bike with no training wheels. So that is what I did. My wife went before me with her to begin to practice while I was trying to take care of my son and we met her up at a parking lot near our house. When I got there my wife told me that she stinks at this job and that I was the man for the job. So off we went and our first attempt did not go very well. Lets just say that dad was not nearly as determined as daughter was and well I guess I could have just gave up then. I thought what is so hard, just balance and peddle and go. Thankfully I didn’t give up and became just as determined as Ariana was. So we practiced for about 45 minutes or so and we had some success, she had moments where she would be riding away with dad running at her side. I thought it was a great start but Ariana thought it was a complete failure and she left the parking lot crying and frustrated. How many times do we let a little opposition or frustration or failure stop us from being determined to do something? Ariana’s perceived failure did not stop her from becoming even more determined. She told Lesleigh very matter of factly on Sunday I am going outside and I am learning to ride my bike. Lesleigh just encouraged her and nothing came from it. Then on Monday night she comes in the house and told Lesleigh I can ride my bike come and see. Lesleigh goes out and she comes in and says to me you need to go outside and look at your daughter she is riding her bike. So out I went and sure enough she was determined to learn to ride her bike and sure enough there she was up and down the street riding her bike with no training wheels. I learned a great lesson from her, a simple lesson but still a great one: don’t give up. Determination in life is an important life skill that we need to learn, but not just any kind of determination we need to learn to be determined to do what is right, determined to do what God has called us to do as born again believers in Jesus Christ. We need to not give up when we sin and when we fail and when we do what we are not suppose to but we need to stay determined to finish our lives strong. The reality is it is a lot easier to give up than to stay determined. But if we are going to live and love and serve and do all the things that really matter in life than we must make this commitment to doing what God wants us to do and that takes a lot of determination. Giving up becomes habit forming just as much as being determined does. I am not sure what you are thinking about giving up on maybe it is a marriage, maybe a job, maybe a person, maybe on yourself, maybe on a hope, maybe on a purpose that God has called you to do whatever it is know that giving up is the easy choice but staying determined is the hard choice. Also remember when we live our lives determined to do what is right we have something far greater than this world and its fleeting pleasure to look forward to. Remember, “But because I have done what is right, I will see you. When I awake, I will be fully satisfied, for I will see you face to face.” Psalm 17:15. God promises us far great things waiting for us in Heaven than here on Earth, so don’t give up and keep on giving, serving, loving and worshiping our great God. One day it will all be worth it!