It’s okay to give up.

When I say “I give up”, this is what I meant.

I was so afraid. I look at this upcoming semester and I was overwhelmed. I knew all I have to do, saw all I had to face, and I was afraid.

I was afraid because I knew it’s more than I can do on my own. I can’t. I still have no idea how I am going to get through this semester. But I don’t have to know how. I just need to know God is with me. And if He with with me, I am going to make it through. He is, and I will.

“Maybe, maybe that’s the point- to reach the point of giving up.“

You know, it’s okay to give up. It’s okay to say, “God, this is too much. I can’t do it. I don’t know how I am going to walk forward on this path ahead of me.”

You know why it’s okay to give up? Because there is another word for that. It’s called surrender. And that is what defines the Christian life. Being in a place where you know you need God for everything is exactly where He wants us to be. He wants us to depend and rely on Him alone. And I know I have to.

It doesn’t depend on me.

I don’t have to be strong enough. I don’t have to find the strength in myself to do this. And I don’t have to be frustrated at myself because it’s not there. I don’t have to try and be something I am not right now. I just have to look elsewhere, because there is one place I will find what I need: in my Savior.

God is my strength. And He will be with me all the way.

I am really encouraged. God has used a few people lately to really encourage me and I have been in the Word and in prayer constantly. I know I am doing better with this because so many people have been praying for me, too. If you were one of those people, thank you. Job 22:29 says, “When people are brought low and you say, ‘Lift them up!’ then He will save the downcast.”

“For this is what the high and lofty One says–He who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.” – Isaiah 57:15

He is reviving me again. I am clinging to Him. And I am clinging to His word.

“But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” – 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

“Do you not know?
   Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
   the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
   and His understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
   and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
   and young men stumble and fall;
 but those who hope in the LORD
   will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
   they will run and not grow weary,
   they will walk and not be faint.” – Isaiah 40:29-31

God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” – 2 Corinthians 9:8

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” – Isaiah 41:10

Therefore, I will not lose heart. Though outwardly I am wasting away, inwardly I am being renewed day by day. – 2 Corinthians 4:16 (personal paraphrase)

“Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him.” The LORD is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him.” – Lamentations 3:21-25