by Sandy Kirby Quandt

Obstacles and opposition test our resolve and perseverance. It’s easy to keep on keeping on toward the goal we’ve set before us when nothing stands in our way of reaching it, but it is another thing altogether when roadblocks continue to come between us and our goals.

Those obstacles come in a number of differing ways. They can be criticism from others, lack of confidence in ourselves that we’ll actually be able to complete what we’ve set out to complete, opposition from Satan and the lies he throws our way.

But the one thing that is a common factor in those who do press on and reach their goal is the determination needed not to give up and quit, despite how easy that would be and how badly we want to do it.

It’s easier to quit, give up, forget about the goal we’ve set for ourselves than it is to keep pounding our head against a door that seems nailed shut and refuses to budge. It’s easier to give in to the words of those who say we’ll fail than to face their continual criticism. Who needs it?

It’s a whole lot easier to ask ourselves, “What’s the use?” and quit. Satan would love nothing more than for us to do just that. Especially when he knows what we are doing is what God has called us to do. His attacks are subtle so we don’t become suspicious he’s the one pushing us to give up.

If we saw his lies for what they truly are, methods to keep us from doing God’s will, there’s no way we’d give in to him. But we don’t always see him behind our discouragement, other peoples’ hurtful words, or the disappointment we live with.

This reminds me of the story of the frog who fell into a half-full pail of milk. He couldn’t hop out because the level of milk was too low. He was determined not to end his life stuck in a pail of milk so he kicked and swam around searching for a way out. All that kicking and swimming with no visible results wore him out, so he stopped kicking.

Of course, when he stopped kicking he sank to the bottom of the pail. This would never do, so he started kicking furiously even though everything within him was worn out and he wanted to give up and quit.

Each time he quit giving it his all he sank. Determined not to give in to fear and defeat the frog pushed himself to the top again and resumed kicking.

The harder that frog kicked, the thicker the milk turned. At first, kicking through the sluggish liquid was even more difficult but the frog refused to give up.

Finally, all that thrashing around turned the milk into solid butter and the frog simple hopped right out of that pail.

So my words to each of us, myself included here, is to keep kicking. Keep on keeping on even when we feel as if we don’t have one more ounce of strength to give, until God turns our pail of milk into butter in his perfect timing.

Ready to give up and quit? Don’t. Remember the frog and keep kicking.

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So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised. Hebrews 10:35-36 (NLT)

I wish you well.

Sandy

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