I tend to think in terms of… ‘ it ain’t over until the fat lady sings’. In my world of definitions – tenacious. But what happens when she has and it is the worse case scenario? As much as we think we may have planned for the worse case possible (and everything in between)… we rarely do. This is basically because in our heart of hearts, we really don’t think this will be the case. However, what if it really is over?
It’s not that I beat a dead horse, but I also don’t want to miss anything either.
“Let us not grow weary or become discouraged in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap, if we do not give in.” (Galatians 6:9, AMP)
Discouragement can be a real killer to our desire to continue. But… what is the source of our discouragement? Is it that we didn’t expect that it would take this much time to reach the goal? Or maybe it’s a self-based discouragement that we will never get ‘it’ right? In any case our eyes are not on where they should be. Perhaps I should have said – who is the source of our discouragement?
The Lord doesn’t bring discouragement! He brings correction… understanding… and a host of other proactive aspects. Thus… the discouragement must come from our enemy. Remember, that while he doesn’t want us saved, he definitely doesn’t want us to experience success and growth as Christians. And also remember, he probably knows scripture better than any of us which means he knows how to twist and mislead us. We always need to be on guard against him.
So… how do we know if the fat lady has sung? That all the time, effort, energy, etc. we’ve spent on (fill in the blank) is finished? First – have we really done everything we can – then, if so, we need to double check with the Lord to confirm this chapter is at an end. IF we have done everything we know then our hands are clean and we can walk away and discover what we can learn from the situation. First though, can we say we have:
“Fight the good fight of the faith [in the conflict with evil];” (1 Ti mothy 6:12a, AMP)
“…but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead…” (Philippians 3: 13b, AMP)
And before you say I’ve taken these 2 scriptures out of context – yes. But the principle remains. If we HAVE done all, we need to focus on what lies ahead. Living in yesterday only brings yesterday’s results.
There is a saying that when life brings you lemons, make lemonade (paraphrased). Moving on is our lemonade time in these situations. It’s far worse to compound it by not seeing what the Lord can do in the midst – He can bring clarity, learning, understanding, and that’s a good foundation on which to ‘move on’.
