I give up!

When he was 18 or 19, Jay bought a Jeep Wrangler. One afternoon, he decided to go ‘off-roading’ in the deep woods. On a trail better suited to a small four-wheeler, he drove into a low spot as he over-estimated the ability of the 4 wheel drive. Within minutes, his Jeep was buried to the axles and he faced a long hike out of the woods. We returned to the place the next day with help and pulled it out with considerable effort. Today, it’s one of those family stories that always brings on laughter. We can picture his growing frustration and desperation as he gunned the engine and just dup in deeper!  It’s a parable for life. Sometimes all our struggling does nothing but make the mud hole deeper. 

When Jay showed up that evening long ago, tired and muddy after his misadventure in the woods, I was aggravated with him for being foolish, but thankful he asked for help. The trip to retrieve the Wrangler turned into an adventure we did together, a memory we share. (Thank you, Wayne Finkle. We could not have done it without you.)

In life, I find myself in a bog from time to time. As I cruise along. I get stuck! I try one thing after another, but no matter what I say or do, it is not right. My motives get judged, my words are misunderstood, and the more I try to make it better, the worse it becomes.  You know what I’m talking about, it happens to all of us. There is a time to just give up – in a faith-filled way. With a sigh, I pray the simplest prayer, “Lord, I give up!”  We don’t resign to the circumstances, we surrender them to the Lord asking His wisdom and courage to see it through. That might sound easy, but for most, it is not. Our pride pushes us to solve the problem. Who wants to admit he can’t get himself out of the pit? Who wants to ‘let go and let God?’  We say it and it sounds good, but the doing is much, much harder.

Shortly after the miraculous Exodus from Egypt, the people of God found themselves with no way out! The Egyptian army (the super-power of the day) was a day’s march behind them and the Red Sea was blocking the way ahead. They were a nation of former slaves, with no army and few weapons.  As their situation became desperate, they “panicked when they saw the Egyptians overtaking them. They cried out to the Lord, and they said to Moses, “Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren’t there enough graves for us in Egypt? What have you done to us? Why did you make us leave Egypt? Didn’t we tell you this would happen while we were still in Egypt? We said, ‘Leave us alone! Let us be slaves to the Egyptians. It’s better to be a slave in Egypt than a corpse in the wilderness!” (Exodus 14:10-12, NLT)  Moses, whose faith had been deepening, calls on them to give up!

“Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.” (Exodus 14:13-14, NLT)  Just stand still. This was not giving in to fate. This was giving up in faith!  Their admission that they could do nothing was paired with their expectation that God would do something. And He did. As Moses obediently responded to Him, God opened up the sea and the people were freed, for good, from the Egyptians who died when they tried to follow.

Is the mud flying, the hole getting deeper? Is your desperation growing? Give up! Turn to the Lord and offer yourself completely to Him.

Here’s a word from the Word. "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.Selah" (Psalm 46:10-11, NIV)

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Stand still, and see His glory!

Watch as His mysteries unfold.

Bask in the sweetness of pure living waters,

Refreshing reviving the soul.

Stand still, and see His glory!

Hallelujah, 'tis wondrous;

His victories and triumphs;

Stand still ye people.

Be silent and see His glory.

Hallelujah, His glory, hallelujah!

Stand still, and see His glory!

Stand Still And See His Glory

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Dottie Rambo

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