Keep It Up

Those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

ISAIAH 40:31

THERE ARE TIMES WHEN the days seem long and the homework seems endless. The sports or music practice seems never-ending, and the chores seem pointless. We realize we’re running on empty, with no energy or interest left. We get tired. We get bored and burned out. We want to hang it up, to quit.

Sometimes the everyday things we have to do—the things that lead us to the next grade, the next level of sports, the next chair in music—become tiresome. It’s the day-after-day work, the commitment, and the ongoing effort that can feel like a job that never ends.

But when we’re working toward something, God tells us to hang tough, to not quit. He tells us to lean on his strength and endurance, and we’ll be refreshed. We’ll find new energy and excitement. When we decide that we’re going to hang tough, our weariness goes away. Those everyday things we do matter. They’re building us into the people we’ll become one day. So don’t quit! Be strong and trust God.

DO

What song inspires you and makes you feel good? What about that song makes you happy? If you can, listen to it. Get up and move around. Sing along. Dance. (No one’s watching!) Now, what might happen if you used it as your new theme song whenever you felt like quitting? You could play it when you’re sick of doing homework. You could sing it in your head while you’re running laps. Music makes everything better, so choose to inspire yourself when you’re tired!

PRAY

Dear God,

Thank you for giving me the strength and energy to keep going and not quit. Please help me remember that I can lean on you when I feel like giving up on something. Remind me that the work I do today makes me stronger tomorrow. Amen.

READ

1 Corinthians 9:24; Hebrews 12:2