fresh flowers for March 18

Don’t Give Up

©2005, Lani Wiens

a fresh flowers original

This is too hard. I’m too tired. These are the thoughts that have been in my head and the words on my lips for the last number of weeks. God has been moving in my heart through my brothers and sisters to show me some truth, to pick me flowers. The flowers for the season are tulips.

Tulips represent perseverance. This is what God has called us to. Perseverance goes completely against worldly thoughts and opinion. Perseverance is long range planning without any instant gratification. Perseverance requires faith to believe that there really is a light at the end of the tunnel. Tulips have to endure cold, ‘flower un-friendly’ conditions in order to bloom. Tulips are one of the first flowers of spring and speak of new life, that winter is past. Tulips are also brilliant, rich and exuberant in their colour as if to say, “Hah, it was worth it to go through the cold, I have overcome!”

Another friend has been speaking to me about losing heart and what occurs when we allow that to happen. When we give up hope we lose our faith in God, we betray His trust and consequently we betray our family and/or friends. The road back from betrayal is long and difficult.

Some of our dear brothers were over praying with my husband as they do on a regular basis. One of the things they discerned is a ‘spirit’ over our house that says, “I’m too tired, it’s too hard.” The end result of those words are despair and hopelessness, losing heart, not persevering. As we recognized and repented, joy and life flowed back into our home because those words are not truth.

How can that be you ask? I AM tired! This IS hard! Of course it is. Nobody said that it would be easy or that we wouldn’t get a little pooped here and there. But there is a bigger truth that needs to be told. Get ready for a little wind in your sails because here it comes…

Truth #1

God has already given you everything you need for the journey that you are on! He is not surprised by what is going on in your life. If you let them, these present trials will create a beauty in you that you could never imagine and they will bring God glory. 2 Corinthians 9:8 “And God is able to make ALL grace abound to you, so that in ALL things at ALL times, having ALL that you need, you will abound in EVERY good work.”

Truth #2

It is possible. You CAN do whatever it is that God is asking of you. Not because of how wonderful you are but because He is working in you! Philippians 4:13 “I can do EVERYTHING through him who gives me strength.”

Truth #3

You will survive this because LIFE is at work in you. Read all of 2 Corinthians 4.

Truth #4

If we don’t give up, we WILL reap a harvest. Hebrews 10:36 “You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.” And verse 39 “But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed but of those who believe and are saved.”

God is good all the time. Don’t give up, not now when victory may be just around the corner. No matter the trial, whether it is difficulty in marriage, a wayward child, disease eating away at you or your loved one, division in relationship, financial disaster, or some other test of your faith. God is faithful, He is NOT slow in keeping His promises and if you do not lose heart, you WILL receive a reward. Claim what is true today friends. Plant some tulips of perseverance. Don’t let the enemy steal, kill or destroy in your territory. Stand your ground. Even though outwardly we are wasting away, inwardly we are being renewed day by day. Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all (that’s from 2 Corinthians 4).