December 3, 2007

Never Give Up

Do you ever feel like giving up? Wonder what to do? Feel overwhelmed? At some point all of us have experienced similar feelings. The familiar story of when Dr. Forrest felt like giving up should help us remember that the Lord is always with us, guiding us even in our darkest moments.

As newlyweds Richard and Evelyn Forrest began their ministry in Orlando, Fla. “It was during these two years that Richard Forrest reached his point of greatest testing—a crisis—when he felt at his lowest ebb emotionally. And the only time in his life when he was ready to give up that to which he had dedicated himself—full-time Christian service.”

Because of personal feelings, the Forrest’s did not accept a salary. As a result they often did not have much. This particular time, they had been gone for six weeks and came home to empty cupboards. “They arrived home at nine-thirty at night, having pedaled in on their bicycles. As they were getting ready to retire, Mrs. Forrest asked her husband how much money he had. He answered, ‘None. I spent the last for our supper.’ She reminded him that there was nothing in the house for breakfast. Of course, they had many friends who would have supplied them, but they did not want to beg.”

Together Richard and Evelyn prayed. But Richard was tormented by the Enemy. All he could think about was how he felt like a failure—unable to provide for his wife. As he prayed, he told God that he would not be a preacher; he would look for a job after breakfast. During this time, Evelyn was praying for her husband not to become discouraged.

They awoke to knocking on their door. “He opened the door and was startled to see, standing on the steps holding a basket in one hand and a jug in the other, Mr. George E. Macy, a Georgia countryman who had moved to Florida and made money. Mr. Macy, a rough, kind-hearted man, owned a carriage factory, a gristmill, a syrup mill, and a rice-shelling plant.

“The Macys kept roomers. A little after 9:30 the night before, a roomer came through the parlor door on his way to his quarters and casually said, ‘I just saw the Forrests ride into town.’

“As Mr. Macy was getting ready for bed, he thought: ‘I wonder if those children have anything in the house to eat.’ He went to bed, but couldn’t sleep. He tossed and turned; at 2 a.m. he got up and packed a basket. Then he sat and waited for daylight, so he could take the basket and jug to the Forrests. With tears in his eye he said, ‘Let me tell you, if you make me lose a good night’s sleep again worrying about you, you’ll hear from me.’" (Quoted text from Achieving the Impossible With God)

God hears the cries of His children. Richard Forrest found the encouragement he needed. We will too when we tell the Lord how we feel. “Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God’” (Mark 10:27).

(Taken from the online devotional book Grace in the Wilderness © 2007 tfchistory.com)