Remember the Biscuits and Don’t Give Up

This past week my sister, Shawna, shared something with me that she posted on Facebook. It was so insightful and helpful that I got her permission to share it here on my blog as well. I think many of you might find it encouraging and helpful too. God showed her that just because it looks like nothing is going right, that it doesn’t mean there isn’t peace, a place of rest, or a promise still there waiting just past the problem. I hope that you will “remember the biscuits”, and don’t give up the next time you are tempted to throw in the towel.

Shawna’s biscuit story (9/29/16)

So my day started out like this:

Having a rough mental kind of morning, kids fighting, worries building, heart hurting, etc. etc. etc.

I decided that before I get to work, I’ll take some extended time out for me and God. I will enjoy this beautiful fall morning by doing my quiet time on the front porch today in a sweater (cuz today you actually need one!), a cup of coffee (and it’s #nationalcoffeeday), and some hot jellied biscuits.

I cook my biscuits, make my coffee, and grab my sweater.

On my way out the front door to go renew my mind, soul, and spirit, my dog trips me. Jellied biscuits fly out of my hand all over the door and floor, and coffee spilled all over me and soaked my sweater.

At this point I want to cry and give up. I’m on the verge of doing just that when a thought occurred. If I give up then I’m letting the devil win. And I’m letting him steal my plan, purpose, and peace from me.

So as much as I want to do something else, I head back to the kitchen, get another biscuit, get coffee, grab a blanket (which I prefer more than a sweater anyway!) -PUT THE DOGS OUTSIDE FIRST (after they cleaned up the buttered and jellied door and floor for me)- then head out (again) to my front porch rocker.

As I sit here (enjoying sitting outside-which I love and rarely do) I start to think that I could have gone two ways:

1) I could give up and cry and go on about my day thinking how I tried and got hurt for trying (which sad to say maybe my typical response)

or

2) I could get stubborn. I could force the issue, overcome the struggle to say “what’s the point” and to say “see what I get for trying to do something right for myself”, to overcome the temptation to wallow in self-pity for something that was aimed to steal my joy and frustrate me.

Though I’ve heard it before many times, today this message gave me a vivid picture. Sometimes you have to push on through to get to your place of rest and peace. Sometimes the answer lies just beyond one more problem.

I think God taught me something today-not through my quiet time-but just before it. 

Shawna’s story reminded me a little bit about a post that I wrote previously about starting the day right (even when you don’t feel like it). My particular situation didn’t involve biscuits. However, I wanted to knock Eric over the head with an alarm clock one particular morning! Nevertheless, I learned to push past my momentary feelings and see the benefits on the other side.

Take Some Practical Steps To Remember the Biscuits and Don’t Give Up:

• Remember the biscuits! The next time you are tempted to quit, give up, or throw in the towel, remember Shawna’s biscuits. Sometimes other people’s stories can help us get through our own tumultuous times. We know we’re not alone. And if she did it…maybe you can too!
• When you are in a moment where want to give up, press on through and do what you know is right even when you don’t feel like it. Often your feelings will follow your actions, but you have to push on to get to that place.
• Know this—When you give up, you are letting the devil win. Don’t give him that satisfaction. Show him that you are an overcomer (1 John 4:4)! You are a fighter! You are the head and not the tail! You are above and not beneath. Show that sorry sucker that he is under your feet! Side note: I love how Joyce Meyer says that when she talks to the devil she looks behind her and onto the ground because he is behind her and beneath her! 🙂

“And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them.” Deuteronomy 28:13 (NKJV)

• Finally, get stubborn! After you’ve decided that you aren’t going to let the devil win, force yourself to overcome the struggle. Remember also that there will be a blessing (a whole harvest of it actually—that’s a lot!) AT JUST THE RIGHT TIME if you don’t give up.

“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” Galatians 6:9 (NLT)

Do you have a story about wanting to give up, but you pushed through instead? Tell us about it by leaving a comment below.

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If you know anyone that could benefit from this, please pay it forward!  Share this post via the sharing links below.  “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)