The sweat. The fall. The doubt. The belief. The sunrise. The trail. The pain. The end.
The sun was calling over the mountains like a siren to sailor’s death. The mountain called. I responded. Step by step, minute by minute, mile by mile, I endured the hill. Half way up the trail, I lost my footing and slipped down onto jagged rocks, cutting my hand and shin. I debated quitting. I mean, I had already completed a good amount of trail. What would it matter if I continued? Who would know? Who would care?
But I couldn’t quit.
I was surrounded by trees; their limbs were like semaphores swaying encouragement. I had to get to the top. I limped my way to the crest of the peak and my breath was taken away. I saw the entire trail, the sunrise, the doubtful cliffs, the believing trees, and I rested in the beauty.
I had a moment with the Creator and saw Life. Sometimes I’ve asked myself, What would it matter if I continued my walk of faith in a Divine Creator? Would would know if I quit? Who would care? But as I stood at the peak of the hill I endured and saw the difficult path I emerged from, I realized the end is worth the fall, the doubt, the pain. Press on, fight the good fight of faith (1 Timothy 6:12), for He shows loving kindness to those who walk before Him with all their heart (2 Chronicles 6:14).
Have you asked if it would matter if you quit? It does. Don’t give up. The view is beautiful from the top.
By Bianca, In The Name of Love and Compassion’s Team San Diego [for more info on joining a running revolution, click here]
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As we feel the attacks from Satan, I sometimes wonder if we shouldn’t be as passionate as we are. But it’s a momentary and fleeting thought and I’m so glad because God’s love is worth it!
I love this picture, Bianca! Right not it speaks to me about being bold and stepping out to take a risk He called me to take…even though at times I think I could just *quit* and no one would notice.
needed that encouragement today. and will pass it to a dear, young friend who is ready to give up on life. thank you.
I love your words, especially “semaphores swaying encouragement.” It’s such a beautiful description and it makes my heart smile.
Beautiful analogy.
So beautiful. And true. A word I needed this week. Just this morning – before I opened my Bible I asked the Holy Spirit to make the scriptures alive to me…fresh. – So that I would keep going. So that I would keep digging. So that I wouldn’t quit. And He did. The Lord is so faithful.
Also, I just underlined that verse in 2 Chronicles. Really good. Thanks for sharing it!
Have a wonderful day 🙂
Blessings,
Kate 🙂
I am in the middle of a blogging project. It is a very difficult one, but has the capacity to help many people. It was born out of a personal struggle and I want so badly to quit, but if I do, someone may not here the message from me that I need to hear. I MUST press on and do the hard things. It is what God wants, and ultimatley,it is what I want as well.
Thanks for these awesome words!
Bernice
Are you too busy to be yourself?
Love this!
It’s similar to an experience I’ve had … though my involved a slow walk because I was recovering from major injuries from an accident. I was so ready to quit everything in my life (even life itself) But after pushing on, I came around a turn and there was a patch of beautiful flowers with butterflies and dragonflies everywhere. That beauty gave me the hope to continue on … one step at a time.
Thanks for this lovely reminder!
I heart these words “the doubtful cliffs, the believing trees” – God speaking in nature and an epiphany waiting at the end of your trail.
And now, because of your words, I begin my day with an epiphany too. I have a dream, a window of opportunity. I will give it absolutely everything I have, leaving nothing on the trail, bruised knees, burning calves, no breath, a heart racing strong, and I will not give in, I will not give up, I will not lay down, I will not quit – even if the only things that notice are the “doubtful cliffs” and “the believing trees”.
Thank you for this Bianca, and God Bless you and yours today.
How very true! The view is much better from the top! Just looking at nature, I live in country setting, one can see God.
Thanks for the encouragement and reminder to NEVER GIVE UP! God’s love is sooo amazing!!
Great reminder (through a beautiful word picture) of just how worth it “the top” is. Those “moments with the Creator” make pressing on through the struggles not only bearable, but purposeful and significant.
Hey lady…just wanna say youa re awesome and inspire me!!
Thank you. I needed to hear this, to see that someone else has struggled with it.
All I really want to do is quit right now.
To just cease fighting, even though I know that’s what I can’t do.
I have to fight, to cling to him and his truth.
Very timely post for me today… Thanks Bianca!
Thanks for sharing this, I really needed this today if only for the one line about whether it matters if I quit. Thank you so much!
Yesterday, I took the girls to the snow and my little one and I got “left behind” at the bottom of the snow-covered, slushy mountain. One foot in front of the other sent our boots deep into snow that came up to our knees. Walking steep was so hard, so we stopped and prayed and soaked in God’s beautiful creation. It’s beautiful to look up and be surrounded by His goodness. The Lord reminded me I need to worship Him in the journey before I reached the top.
I tend to quit, but I disguise that by saying I’m ambitious, I like challenge, I need the next best thing….God has shown me the unfaithfulness that lies in my heart and he is renewing me to simply maintain, walk and worship right here…on the middle of the mountain.
It seems God has been whispering those same words of encouragement to my heart this week too, Bianca. Thanks for the reminder to keep going–all the way to everything He has for us. So grateful for you!
I retweeted this because it was JUST what I needed today. I’m new to {in}courage and am so enjoying it! I just happened to scroll down and saw the author’s bio and picture. Bianca HAS to be related to Jasmine Star. If not, she has a twin out there. *wink* Thanks for the uplifting words today!
Thank you for the timely post.
Bianca,
What a great question! Who would know if I quit on God? I just need to keep reminding myself that the path up is always tough.
… to persevere, to hang on, to hang in, to live one minute at a time, to trust Christ to get you through = incredible relief, peace of mind, contentment, a sense of accomplishment.
I love these words – “We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged …”
Romans 5 (The Message).
Oh B, Just what I needed I have been saying since the beginning of the year that I was going to exercise and eat well and this is the year I am going to do it for me….but I quit…Thanks for the encouragement to start again with these words..DON’T QUIT!! I love it so simple and yet so powerful…
Also just wanted to “edit” Would would know if I quit? Should read Who would know if I quit? 😮