"Our greatest
weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed
is always to try
just one more time." - Thomas Edison
 |
| All but lost in a sea of green - an image of hope that doesn't quit. |
Forty years is a long time; especially if you’re waiting for
something. If you haven’t lived that long, I’m sorry to say, you may have to
wait awhile to fully grasp the situation.
Among other Biblical examples who come to mind, the most often associated with a forty-year wait was Moses. He knew he wanted to deliver the slaves, but he failed miserably at his attempt. Forty years later, God used him to do just that.
Among other Biblical examples who come to mind, the most often associated with a forty-year wait was Moses. He knew he wanted to deliver the slaves, but he failed miserably at his attempt. Forty years later, God used him to do just that.
Closer to our time is Thomas Edison, an awkward home-schooler whose
inherited (from his mother) disposition for determination redefined the word “failure”
as finding ways that don’t work. His perseverance led to light bulbs going on
in homes all over the world. Edison also holds the record for the greatest
number of U.S. patents for his inventions (1093).
You may never have to wait forty years for anything, but I’m sure you can identify with feeling as if things aren’t working. Maybe you can identify with feeling like giving up. Maybe, like me, you’ve had all those experiences.
It has been forty years since I was inspired to compose my first song. But, until this week, I could not produce anything more than a voice recording. All I could really do, with intermittent infusions of confidence was sing. Over time, at the suggestion of others, I’ve been encouraged to learn to play the guitar or the piano. Some of the gifted unwittingly taunted me, declaring the simplicity of the task. Others offered temporary assistance, putting chords to songs for demos, so they could be professionally produced. In time, I was able to present a fraction of these original compositions with professional accompaniment.
Then, last week, one-by-one, all the doors of help closed again. Stronger and more confident in the knowledge of being led by God’s spirit, I did not give up. I asked for Him to show me the next step, without leaning on my own understanding of what would have to take place. I considered spending a day or two working hard enough on the guitar to play 3-4 chords as a demo, even if I had to record each chord and put it together electronically, then sing a voice over (I still haven’t given up on that). But first, I sat down at the computer and, Googled, just one more time...
After seven hours of labor, in the wee hours of Saturday morning, my first demo was born by the prosthesis of modern technology. Modern technology that was not available forty years ago except in somebody’s dreams. Now, the possibilities stretch out before me like a promised land.
The enemy will do his best to discourage you, to make you feel as if your vision, or dream isn’t really from God or He would have provided for it long ago. You may have even given up and hidden the vision away. Been there, too.
Giving up really isn’t an option when the vision is from God. He will indeed provide. But, He will do it in His time, because it is, after all, His work… Isn’t it?
You may never have to wait forty years for anything, but I’m sure you can identify with feeling as if things aren’t working. Maybe you can identify with feeling like giving up. Maybe, like me, you’ve had all those experiences.
It has been forty years since I was inspired to compose my first song. But, until this week, I could not produce anything more than a voice recording. All I could really do, with intermittent infusions of confidence was sing. Over time, at the suggestion of others, I’ve been encouraged to learn to play the guitar or the piano. Some of the gifted unwittingly taunted me, declaring the simplicity of the task. Others offered temporary assistance, putting chords to songs for demos, so they could be professionally produced. In time, I was able to present a fraction of these original compositions with professional accompaniment.
Then, last week, one-by-one, all the doors of help closed again. Stronger and more confident in the knowledge of being led by God’s spirit, I did not give up. I asked for Him to show me the next step, without leaning on my own understanding of what would have to take place. I considered spending a day or two working hard enough on the guitar to play 3-4 chords as a demo, even if I had to record each chord and put it together electronically, then sing a voice over (I still haven’t given up on that). But first, I sat down at the computer and, Googled, just one more time...
After seven hours of labor, in the wee hours of Saturday morning, my first demo was born by the prosthesis of modern technology. Modern technology that was not available forty years ago except in somebody’s dreams. Now, the possibilities stretch out before me like a promised land.
The enemy will do his best to discourage you, to make you feel as if your vision, or dream isn’t really from God or He would have provided for it long ago. You may have even given up and hidden the vision away. Been there, too.
Giving up really isn’t an option when the vision is from God. He will indeed provide. But, He will do it in His time, because it is, after all, His work… Isn’t it?
Habbakuk 2:3
“The vision will still happen at the appointed time. It hurries toward its goal. It won't be a lie. If it's delayed, wait for it. It will certainly happen. It won't be late” God’s Word Translation.
Galatians 6:9
“Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary” New American Standard Bible.
Ephesians 3:20
“With God’s power working in us, he can do much, much more than anything we can ask or think of” Easy to Read Version.
Excerpt from:
While it
is Called Today - a 30-day photo devotional for living well
by Dee Marvin Emeigh
(c) 2014 Dee Marvin
Emeigh
all rights reserved
