We have a saying in our house: “Heikkas don’t quit.” In fact, we have it written on our Heikka Family Creed, a document we’ve put together that lists our family values and things that are important to us. We’ve had our creed taped to the kids’ bedroom doors since they were about four and six, and both of them have it memorized.
A constant reminder about not quitting has been helpful when our kids have gotten discouraged with homework, sports, or any challenge they’ve faced. It’s been great to be able to talk to them about the fact that all good things are worth the hard work, and that just because something is difficult doesn’t mean you should give up.
And I hope that when our kids grow up and face challenges much bigger than studying for a test or winning a soccer game, they’ll remember to stay the course. They’ll be determined not to quit.
Because life can be full of daunting challenges and storms.
Some of you might be in the middle of one right now. Maybe it’s unemployment. Or cancer. Or a marriage that’s falling apart. Maybe it’s addiction. Or depression. Or a debilitating disease.
And, sometimes, when you’re in the middle of these kinds of storms, giving up or giving in can seem like a good option. But the good news is, we are never alone in our storms. We are never left to weather the cold and pounding rain by ourselves, no matter who we are or where we’ve been.
God is with us and He promises…
“I will never leave you or forsake you.” – Hebrews 13:5
“I am with you always…” Matthew 28:20
So if you’re in a storm right now, don’t lose heart.
Don’t quit.
Don’t give up.
Because God can help you through it…
“I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” Phillippians 4:13
Call out to Him and He will be faithful…
“The promise of the Lord proves true;
He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.” Psalm 18:30
I’ve been reading the book Real Moms, Real Jesus, by Jill Savage and I just happened to read a part today where she talks about recognizing the value of storms in our lives. She reminds us not to run from storms, but to run to God instead. And she says, “It is the storms of our life that bring us into the deepest intimacy with God.”
What about you? What storms have you faced in your life? Can you share a time you have weathered a storm with God’s help?
Storms? Let’s see: three children and two grandchildren with birth defects (two of whom were given “no chance to live” — but they did); 18 years of child abuse (including physcial, sexual, and emotional); son currently in hospital with ruptured appendix; house axed to pieces by tenants; hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt for medical problems; abusive professor who kept creating ways for me not to finish my degree.
Now, the rainbows: all the kids lived and have been quite a joy; reconciliation with abusive mother and a resultant understanding of how to treat my own children; son is past the danger point and has gained a few days of rest that he would not otherwise have taken since he has been rushing back and forth to his doctor’s life-saving surgeries; we did not need the house anyway — the money not needed for house repair allowed us to do things we would not have otherwise; doctors and hospitals forgave what insurance could not pay and for one child a billionaire stepped in and paid; I finished my degree in Russia and became somewhat famous there for doing so.
I love the storms because of the rainbows that come afterward.
Praise the Lord for the work He does in us. Our storms Glorify the Lord. Great devotion yet again!
God bless you and your work!