Don't give up!

It was a Monday morning when my friend Scott called me and asked me to go with him to take some groceries to a needy family in the county—actually they were my neighbors.  I willingly went; I thought we’d be in and out in just a few minutes but he had other ideas.  Only the wife was home and Scott was determined to reach out beyond just the gift of food.  I remember him continually telling the lady how we cared and wanted to help and asked her over and over again if there was anything we could do to assist them.  By this point I was sitting in a chair and to my chagrin, I was irritated with Scott for prolonging the visit.  We had reached out several times to this family but they had never responded with any openness.  In my mind, we had done our good deed and we were now wasting our time and I was ready to go.  But then, all of a sudden, something happened.  The woman began to cry.  I can clearly hear her words even now, “Thank you for caring for us!  Thank you for caring!”

In that moment, filled with shame at my own selfishness and lack of compassion, God began to speak to me.  He told me I give up on people way too soon and he brought to mind another couple I’d been reaching out to but had given up on.  There in that seat I repented, I changed my mind and heart, and decided I would not give up on people and made a commitment to visit that same couple that very night.

It was a cold, winter evening when we showed up at their door.  They weren’t expecting us but graciously let us in.  I remember they didn’t have any central heat and they only had one kerosene heater in the living room.  They had even blocked off other rooms with sheets where there weren’t doors.  That night I told them about Jesus and His love for them.  I spoke of God’s concern and His desire to forgive them and make them His own children.   It was amazing to me what happened next--with deep emotion they both received Jesus as their Savior.   We gathered around their coffee table on our knees and they expressed their faith through prayer and I followed that by praying for them.  For one who follows Christ, it was a sacred moment but it didn’t end with my prayer as the husband asked me, “Can I pray again?”  I told him he most assuredly could and then bowing his head again, he prayed.  His prayer was short and I assure you these were his exact words-- I’ll never forget them; “Dear Lord, thank you for not letting them give up on me! Amen.” 

 In one day God had spoken to me as clearly as I’d ever heard him—twice no less.  “Jimmy, don’t ever give up on people.”  I wish I could say that from that day I’ve always been faithful to that directive.  True confessions—some people make it hard not to give up.  They test the metal of my resolve but then God reminds me of that day and I press on.

Maybe you are tempted to give up on a friend, a neighbor, a child or even a spouse.  The decisions they are making, the choices they are choosing and the constant refusal to make positive and lasting change causes you to want to throw up your hands and walk away.  Don’t!  Please don't!  I don't mean that you should enable bad behavior or facilitate errant choices but what I do mean is continue to love them, to invest grace in them, to challenge them and even to pray for them.  Don't give up on them in your heart.  Not too long ago I was feeling a bit discouraged that someone I was investing in wasn’t making much change.  I was telling a friend about that and what he said reminded me of the lesson God taught  me so many years ago; “Jimmy, I’ve discovered that things can change in a person’s life in an instance.  Always remember, the end has not been written.”  What a great reminder. 

So I leave you with this encouragement—don’t give up!  Never, ever give up hope that people can change because the end has not been written!