Hanging On When You Feel Like Giving Up
Hanging On When You Feel Like Giving Up
The following message by Aleister Begg is made available by Truth For Life. For more information, visit us online at truthforlife.org.
1 Peter 5:1 says, “So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him because He cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To Him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
Martin Luther, no friend of the Pope after his thesis became widely known, once said in writing, “I am more afraid of my own heart than of the Pope of Rome, for in my own heart there dwells that great pope, self.” I don’t know about you, but I believe without a doubt that, during my time in pastoral ministry, no one has given me more trouble than myself. I am my own biggest problem. The challenges we face in ministry don’t come to us in isolation; they arise within the context of our personalities, our family lives, and various other factors. Our personalities play a significant role in how we respond to trials, difficulties, and what Peter refers to as sufferings. It is easy for us to pretend we understand things we actually know little about. Some of our brothers here have experienced trials and suffering in a very tangible, physical way, in a manner that others may only know in theory.
In this session, we’ll focus on the theme of holding on when you feel like giving up. The reason I chose this topic is that I couldn’t think of anything else to do, and someone suggested I should do something for a breakout session. So, I agreed, but if you need to step out, other sessions are still ongoing.
The only time I recall doing anything similar was years ago when I was very young and invited to do a seminar at the Moody Bible Institute. I had never done a seminar before and wasn’t sure what one was, so I gave it a title, “Ministerial Depression,” thinking it sounded good, though I knew nothing about it. I assumed no one would show up, but to my surprise, the room was packed, and people were even hanging off the rafters. I realized then that this was a real issue.
Why do I start here with Peter’s letter? Because I want to ensure that everything we do is guided by Scripture, and that any insights I share are filtered through the truth of God’s Word. In 1 Peter 5, Peter doesn’t introduce himself with the same authority he does in the beginning of the letter, where he identifies as an apostle. Here, he exhorts the elders as a fellow elder, indicating that we are all entrusted with this responsibility together.