Keep Pushing Through or Cut Your Losses

Struggles. Everyone has them. Some struggles are smallish while others are ginormous! Whether it’s studying for a final … losing those last five pounds to reach your desired weight … or deciding to end a toxic friendship … it’s often hard to know which way to turn. How do you know to keep pushing through or cut your losses and walk away from your struggle? What do you do to understand if the struggle is worth it … if the battle is worth the aggravation you may need to exert for the desired outcome?

Sometimes just the process of trying to find the answers to the questions of how to continue forward seems as difficult as that struggle itself. But it’s best to remember, always do the first thing first.

 

 

First Things First

Do your best to see your struggle for exactly what it is. Comparing our struggle to someone else only adds to the problem. All struggles are personal. And our struggles need to be respected because they are so real and personal. We mustn’t try to talk them away. We need to face them head-on. But we need to know what we’re facing.

The Bible is filled with stories of struggle. One of my favorites can be found in the Old Testament book of Joshua, starting at chapter five, verse thirteen. An angel came to Joshua with a word from God, (Joshua 5:14-6:5), instructing him to take the city of Jericho. These instructions seemed a bit unorthodox. And God knew exactly what Joshua was facing. Jericho’s city was surrounded by a protective wall that nothing had proved to penetrate. But God was clear. Take the city of Jericho.

Do you remember the children’s nursery rhyme?
Joshua fought the battle of Jericho, Jericho, Jericho
Joshua fought the battle of Jericho
and the walls came a-tumbling down

The Lord told Joshua to march around the walls of Jericho for six days (Joshua 6). God didn’t say the walls would fall immediately. He didn’t say it would be easy. He said, “I have delivered Jericho into your hands.” To claim the victory that was already theirs, Joshua and his army had to trust God and his promises.

How many times do you think they considered stopping because what they were doing didn’t seem to make a difference? Do you think Joshua’s army felt a bit foolish marching around the gated city while soldiers looked on? Yet Joshua stayed focused on the task at hand. He didn’t stop. Even after six days of doing what he needed to do, he kept going.

Are you Dealing with a Day Six?

How close have you come to stopping when something seemed too difficult or impossible to achieve? How many times have you come to your Day Six, but decided to quit because it was too hard or you didn’t see any reason to continue? Ask God for His direction regarding your struggle. If you seek wisdom from God, he will tell you to whether keep pushing through or cut your losses.

Hang in there with whatever you’re dealing with! You may be at Day Six and not even know it.

What say you?

What do you wonder about?  Are you happy … or are you doing what you never thought you’d do? Do you see consistencies … or are you all over the place? Drop me a line. I’d love to chat.

Struggling to find good in your life? Check out my award-winning book, God’s Best During Your Worst, or check out any of my other books on my Book page.