Don’t Give Up
June 3, 2011
Excerpt from 2 Kings 2: 1-12
"Elijah said to Elisha, 'Stay here; for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel.' But Elisha said, 'As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.'"
Reflection by Anthony B. Robinson
I don't know about you, but some days it seems like there's a veritable Greek chorus of voices in and around me chanting, "Why bother?" "What's the point?" "Who cares?" and "It makes no difference, give it up."
Or we may say to ourselves, or to God, "What good has been done by all this effort and struggle?" Or flat out, we assert, "It's done no good. I have nothing to show for all my toil and trouble."
When I'm hearing these voices, I find Elisha to be of some help. Instructed by his mentor, Elijah, to stay back, and encouraged by on-lookers to stand aside, Elisha refused. He told Elijah there was no way he was giving up, going back, or letting go. "As the Lord lives, as you yourself live, I will not leave you." In the face of Elisha's resolve, even the mighty prophet Elijah relented.
Yes, there probably are times when we need to rethink our options. There are situations when we should ask, does this thing I'm stuck on have anything to do with God or is it mostly about my own ego? But there are also times for the simple wisdom of determination, tenacity and persistence. There are times when the word we need to hear and heed is three words, "Don't give up."
If this is one of those times, borrow some courage from Elisha who refused to give up, to go back or go away. There's a time for tenacity. Maybe that time is now. Don't give up.
Prayer
Lord, grant me such grace that by surrendering to you, I surrender to none other. Amen.
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