How to Fight the Good Fight and Finish the Race
How do you feel when someone says, “I give up.”
I believe ‘giving up’ has a negative connotation to it. It brings a sense of failure.
Which is harder; to give up or stick it out and finish what you started?
my WHY
I have felt like giving up many times.
But what keeps me going?
First and foremost, my kids. Being their mother, I think about what type of legacy I would be leaving behind. I do not want them to believe that giving up is an option.
Secondly, being the oldest of 5, I need to set a good example for my siblings.
Thirdly, I have friends and patients; and other people I do not know who look up to me and are watching me.
At times I would rather bury my head in the sand, but instead, I dig my heels in, take a deep breath, and stand my ground. I remind myself of whose child I am, my earthly father’s but most importantly, my heavenly Father’s.
my STORY
Becoming a physician is one of the most challenging and long journeys that I have taken in my life.
Many times I said to myself, “Why did I not take a 4-year degree? I would have been done and got a job by now instead of reading and reading, being in the hospital for several hours without enough sleep. Why was I punishing myself?”
My parents did not talk me into doing medicine. It was a choice I made on my own.
I wanted to give up when I failed my preclinical. I was down for several days when I got my results. I thought I was not bright enough to do medicine.
With the encouragement of family and friends, I picked myself back up. I had to get over the shame of repeating the whole year with a different class.
So it took seven long years instead of six to graduate from medical school. But that was not it. I still did one year of internship in Nigeria, followed by three years of residency before practicing medicine here in the United States.
Altogether, it took ten years after high school to finish school and train as a medical doctor. Now that I am practicing as a physician, no one has asked me how long I spent in medical school.
What if I had quit?
3 Reasons WHY you may quit
Perseverance is a godly quality.
It connotes that you are dealing with something difficult.
Today’s world tells us to get out or give up when things do not go well or we do not succeed after the first try or maybe even the second.
Our God tells us to persevere. Never give up. Keep on keeping on. God will give you strength.
You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.
Hebrews 10: 36
Why do people give up?
1. Because life is difficult.
Life troubles present to each person differently. Jesus’ life was difficult, but He persevered. We can overcome the difficulties of life because He lives in us, and we have the Holy Spirit as our helper. He will give us the inner strength to persevere and overcome every problem that we face.
I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble but take heart! I have overcome the world.
- John 16:33
2. Because of doubts.
People have doubts about their faith. Doubt is a state between belief and unbelief. Being human, we all doubt at one time or the other being human. Whom we believe or choose to follow in our doubts is the most important.
Trusting Satan, the tempter, leads to unbelief. Trusting in God leads to belief. The process of overcoming our doubts is the stepping stone to greater and stronger faith. We should bring our doubts to the judgment bar of Scripture. Do you read the bible? Do you know what it says?
So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.
- Romans 10:17
3. Because of persecution.
Believing in something which goes against many other people’s beliefs can put you in a situation where you may be made fun of or challenged for your beliefs. Can you take that without backing down? There is a reproach in the gospel.
"Therefore, let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured."
- Hebrews 13:13
Why Preserve?
It should be because we want to do God’s will and derive joy from that, just as Jesus did His Father’s will. Read through these verses that talk about not giving up and the benefits of persevering.
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
- 2 Timothy 4:7
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
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
- Galatians 6:9
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
- James 1:12
I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
- Philippians 4:13
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
- Colossians 3:23-24
Final Thoughts
Giving up is not a choice.
We are to persevere.
Let us live the life that God has called us to, no matter what obstructions may be in our way. Persevere and push through to the end until He calls us home or He comes for us.
Run the race.
Never give up!!
Fight the good fight!!