“Give up.”

“Quit.”

“You’re never gonna make it.”

I hear these whispered lies from the enemy on a regular basis. Most days, I choose not to listen to them and keep marching toward Jesus. On other days, however, when life is borderline overwhelming, I’m tempted to succumb to discouragement and call it quits.

The Apostle Paul, I imagine, was not exempt from the adversary’s relentless attack of discouraging lies. 

In today’s key verse, we find him lying in the dirt, bruised, bloodied, and left for dead outside the city of Lystra. (A mob had stoned Paul within an inch of life.) 

As he regained consciousness and pain pulsated throughout his body, Paul had a decision to make.

What would he do now?  

Pack it up and go home? 

-or-

Get back up and continue with the mission?

During this pivotal moment, we can almost hear the enemy begin to bludgeon Paul. 

“Give up.” 

“Quit”

“You’re never gonna make it.”   

Stop and think about what’s at stake. If Paul listens to the lies and forgoes the mission the Lord had given him (Acts 9:15), the enemy would greatly hinder the advancement of the Gospel. 

Instead, like a scene straight out of Hollywood, Paul stood to his feet, regained his composure, and walked towards Lystra. That’s right…he went back to the city where he was just assaulted. Now that’s what I call courage!

(I’m convinced that we should see Paul’s picture next to the definition of ‘grit’ in the dictionary.)

Yet, Paul’s decision to get back up and keep going was not found in his own willpower.  

In 2 Corinthians 4:7-9, Paul explains the source of his strength, “We are knocked down, but not destroyed” because of the “all-surpassing power from God.”

When Paul was at his weakest, it was the power of Jesus that gave him the strength to stand and the ability to soldier on.

While we may have never been physically attacked like Paul, we know what it’s like to be knocked down by life, don’t we?

The adversary swoops in with his discouraging voice, tempting us to abandon our assignment and walk out on what the Lord has called us to do. 

But there is far too much at stake to listen to his lies, my friend. Each of us has a vital role to play in the Kingdom.

Remember, hardship is not a sign that the Lord has forsaken us. As Paul would wisely share with believers in Lystra weeks after being attacked, “Anyone signing up for the kingdom of God has to go through plenty of hard times” (Acts 14:22 – The Message). 

In and of ourselves, we don’t have what it takes to rise again from life’s “hard times” and crushing blows. Like Paul, we must rely on a Strength far greater than our own. Over time, we’ll see the Lord sustain us in ways beyond our comprehension. 

So, don’t give up!

In the power of Jesus…get back up.

Written by Jonathan Munson, Executive Director, RFTH