As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. -- Isaiah 55:10-11

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

When You Want to Quit...Please Don't

This morning I was praying for you, for the people who comment and those who don't either because you don't have anything to say or you are afraid others don't value what you say, and I told the Lord...
...if I could give you anything today...
...if I could impart anything to you...
...speak anything into your spirit...

I would say...

DON'T QUIT!!!!

I know the road is hard. I know it hurts. I know you want to give up. I know your heart aches more than you ever dreamed it could, and I know you are tired and weary and feel battle worn, and just lying down and saying, "Enough is enough," is so tempting.

I know.

I've been there.

And I am begging you...DON'T QUIT!!!!

You are not here because of some cosmic glitch. You are not here because God saw a blank line on a family tree and needed to put a name there.

You are here because YOU HAVE A PURPOSE.
You are here because YOU ARE AN ANSWER TO SOMEONE'S PRAYER.
You are here because THE GOD OF ALL CREATION SAYS YOU ARE NEEDED, WANTED, AND DESIRED.
You have something that no one else in this world has.

If I could look you in the eyes right now, I would tell you,
"You are amazing.
You are beautiful.
There is no one like you. Never has been. Never will be. YOU are beyond compare.
Your dreams have not been forfeited.
You are not a hopeless loser.
You are not beyond repair.
You are not damned to live a life of pain and hurt.
You, beautiful and beloved one, are the one Jesus died for.
You are the one God is pursuing with wild abandon because He sees who you really are.
You are so much more than this world has told you."

And I know some days that is so hard to believe, and I know some days you can't see it. I've never seen a platypus, but I believe they exist. The same God who made that platypus made the incomparable YOU. If you can believe there is a platypus, please--PLEASE!--believe in you...not because of what you have done or can do but because God is reaching out to you, because He woke me up at 5:00 am to tell you this...because He led me through the hell first so I could reach back, give you a hand, and tell you that you CAN get through this.

Please, please don't quit. You are more valuable than anyone has told you, and I'm telling you now. I thank God for you. I thank God that He has answered someone's prayer by giving you life. I thank God that you are more valuable than rubies, that you are more valuable than you have courage to believe. You are priceless.

You...are to die for.

Praying for you....

7 comments:

My daily walk in His grace! said...

Hi Jerri. Excellent post. Would you mind if I put a link to it in my blog (if I can once and for all figure out how!!!!) Look forward to hearing from you.
ps: You better be believing this post too!
God bless
Tracy

Jerri Kelley said...

Tracy, absolutely link to it! To God be the glory!

And, yes, woman of God, I totally believe it to the core of me. I never did quit. Wanted to several times. Got really tired and sat down for a bit. Hid behind a rock and took a much needed nap...but when pursued by the most amazing Lover the world has ever known or could ever dream...My heart was too drawn to Him to quit...When the ultimate Knight in shining armor catches your eye and calls your name, how could I not I not follow?

mizzbrizz said...

Jerri, today would have been the 39th birthday of a friend of mine. She took her life a little less than a month ago. I, too, have been to the dark place where hope seems gone. And after her death, in the midst of this life, I allowed myself to fall into the depths of despair, too. I know what took hold of her...and it is strong and alluring to let go, but God reminded me to look up, to reach out, and there He was--just as He always is. I pray this message will reach beyond the eyes and ears and deep into the hearts and minds of those who need to be freed from the darkness. There's always just enough light for the place you're in...if you seek Him!

Jerri Kelley said...

Heather, I am so, so sorry about your loss. I have no words...

"...it is strong and alluring to let go..."
Anyone who has never experienced that fight cannot know the peace promised...or desired. And you are right, SO right. The only peace--the ONLY peace--is with Him, in Him, and sometimes it is a fight to get there. Sometimes it is a fight with Him, but He's big enough, and He's not scared because while He is fighting with you, He is fighting for you, and He's never been afraid of a fight.

I agree with your prayer that "this message will reach beyond the eyes and ears and deep into the hearts and minds of those who need to be freed from the darkness." Ye, Lord God, let it be.

Blessings, sister!

Anonymous said...

How timely!

Its times like this when my daughter is sick that my own will to push through wears thin. I seem to slip in a pity mode, feeling like I am doing it all by myself. I know it seems like it but I know even more that it is never the case! We have a God who will never leave or forsake us and He is not one to lie!

God bless you, Ms. Jerri!

PX

Jerri Kelley said...

PX, so seriously, I wrote that post, and then hell camped on my front door. My daughter had an audition for Willie Wonka Junior, musical. She got sick, developed serious congetion, and had vocal issues. In fact, the day before the audition, we were in the doctor's office. We had to reschedule her much anticipated sleepover, a playdate, and....Found out I had more estate issues to address. One bank did not properly close our account, and I had overdraft fees that they would not reimburse. And...

Honey, I SO understand!!! And in the midst of that, I was grieving Rob horribly and really didn't know who to talk to about it, and I was trying to move forward with some personal things. And.....

It was TOTALLY overwhelming, and really, I sat down with God and said, "Look, I just told these people don't quit, and I want to hand in my resignation letter. I am getting the stuffing beat out of me. I really need you to do something."

He instantly responded. I got my EMR badge from my instructor [means I responded to an emergency and did well. I'm very proud of that badge. :-) ] Received a letter with an anonymous donation to the children and me. A friend took me to lunch. Had a long talk with a friend of mine that did wonders. God totally rocked the house.

There are times when I don't want the responsibility, and He really doesn't seem to care. LOL Then, there are times when I really need help with the responsibility, and He always comes through.

Praying for you, woman of God!!!

Jan said...

Did you also ... just maybe write this for yourself - today? I wish I had your email. I think I'd send this to you!