Put MANURE on it...but DON"T GIVE UP!

Are you facing something in your life right now that you want to give up on????


Is it something that you have been working hard at for a long time and you are just not seeing any fruits produced from your labor???


It could be a number of things...


You could be struggling with losing weight. No matter how hard you try to stick to your diet and try to get some exercise in...it just never seems like it works! You fall back into old habits and get so discouraged that you don't want to get back on the wagon.


You could be struggling with your finances. You tell yourself every month that you are going to do better with keeping track of your expenses and save more...but before you know it, the month is over and you have failed to accomplish your goals.


You could be struggling with spending time with the Lord. You know how important it is to spend time in the Word and you tell yourself that you are going to make sure to pray more, read more and study more...but as the days pass you feel frustrated that you just can't get focused.


You could be struggling with your job. It could be a number of things in this area that threaten to bring you down. You could be unhappy where you are at in your job and are waiting on God to open new doors of opportunity. You could be struggling with being so overwhelmed in your current position, and are waiting on God to deliver you from your situation.


You could be struggling with a relationship. It could be a marriage that has lost passion for a number of reasons;and you are pleading with God to restore authentic love. It could be a broken relationship with a mom, dad, sister, brother or any family member.


You could be struggling with... (place your own issue here).


Whatever you are dealing with in your life right now I want to encourage you....


PUT SOME MANURE ON IT...BUT DON"T GIVE UP!!!!!!


Let me explain why I say this to you :)


In the book of Luke, chapter 13, Christ gives us a parable of a fig tree that provides us comfort in times when we feel like giving up.


It says,
“A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 And he said to the vine dresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’ 8 And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. ”


There are a couple of things in here that I want to share that might provide you some encouragement. (I know I was encouraged as I read them)


First...I want you to see that the Lord says that this man was struggling to produce fruit for THREE YEARS!!!!! I don't know about you...but after that long I would want to give up too!


Second...I want you to see that Christ tells us this story and explains the frustration that the man must have felt after three years of waiting with NO results. I found great comfort in this because it showed me that Christ really understands how weary we can become as we wait on something! The Lord of this universe can relate to us!


Third...The Lord continues with story by showing us that even when we feel like we can't go on, HE WILL provide a way for us to get through! He tells us that we should put manure on the tree and wait....


He knows that there will be times that we want to give up!!!!
BUT.....
He is reminding us that we have to continue on in faith!
He knows it isn't easy...
He hears your prayers.
He sees your tears.
and He knows your struggle.


A friend told me the other day that when God wounds us He is binding us to Him! He said that if God were to give us everything we want we might be happy, but He would rather use the moments when we need Him to give us true joy in Him alone!


Begin to look at what He is teaching you as you wait.
Don't give up on what you have been believing and praying for. We serve a faithful God who knows exactly what you need...when you need it!!!


Keep going...don't give up!!!!!!!!!!!!


Oh how He loves you and me!