Hang On and Never Give Up

While living in Portland, Oregon, I walked into a church service where the following lines were being sung over and over – “hold on just a little bit longer, everything is going to be alright.” 

It’s very easy to get caught up in the momentum when everyone is singing the same tune, swaying about and clapping their hands.  But what happens when the service is finished, fellowship and coffee time are over and we’re headed out the door?  How long can we carry forward the emotional impact and enthusiasm of words such as these before we start becoming discouraged and think, that while those were nice words and they made us feel good at the time, can we really trust the message?

How do we really know things are going to be alright?  We strive relentlessly towards our goals and, when we don’t see any light at the end of the tunnel, we start thinking we never will.  Questions like, “how long can we keep doing this without results,” or “maybe this isn’t what we’re supposed to be doing because if it was we should have gotten somewhere by now.” plague us.  It’s not easy holding on when we’re not even sure if we should anymore.

If we keep holding on is that enough?  Well, maybe not all of enough but some of enough.  If we can remember what started us in a certain direction to begin with and recapture the feelings we experienced at the time, then perhaps we will be able to change our dialogue.  If we truly believe that everything is in Divine Order, that we are guided by Divine Intelligence and that God has a purpose and plan for our lives which He placed within our hearts for the purpose of fulfillment, then we can hold on longer, even for dear life if needed, with the dogged determination that what we are striving for is what we should be doing.  It’s not all going to come to us at once but we can notice the incremental steps and be grateful for them as they eventually bring us face to face with the unlocked doors waiting for us to walk through and claim what we have been seeking and holding on for.

My advice – hold on a little bit longer.  A little bit longer might be tomorrow.

💙 Marian