Never Give Up!

Are you overwhelmed with bullying and misunderstandings? You might be thinking: ‘I'm finished. I just can't take any more!’

I've heard those words several times. I know Christians who have been bullied and abused from a young age. They often think about suicide, but they don't give up.

I know Christians whose fathers, siblings or children have committed suicide. Their emotional pain is unspeakable, but they don't give up.

I became a Christian at the age of 24. My first church was an authoritarian sect.

I was excommunicated. I had a nervous breakdown and was hospitalised for a whole year.

I was discharged, but I needed strong medication for a very long time. But I had found Jesus and I didn't give up.

Many Christians have cruel experiences. Some give up and are no longer interested in God, but I found that God is faithful. Jesus never let me down.

Jesus understands this agony. As a child, he was repeatedly subjected to slander. Everyone knew he was conceived when his parents were not yet married. Not a problem nowadays, but a disgrace back then.

Shortly after he began his ministry as a preacher, he visited his hometown. As Jesus was preaching, his former neighbours tried to murder him.

All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this.

They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff.

But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way. Lk 4:28–30 NIV

Jesus was physically unharmed because God somehow supernaturally protected him, but do you think he wasn't emotionally wounded? These people were his neighbours and friends.

Are you sometimes desperate, or maybe at the end of your rope right now? Jesus understands.

Are you so deeply hurt that you often react negatively? You are constantly misunderstood by others. They can't see or understand the hurts in your soul.

Jesus understands.

Perhaps you are deeply hurt in the church and you no longer want to attend church services. Others look down on you. They judge you because you are so sensitive and seemingly superficial. Jesus understands.

Paul was also misunderstood and cruelly persecuted.

Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes.
Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. 2 Cor 11:24–25 NASB95

Paul was imprisoned several times and executed twice.

The first time he was stoned and went to heaven. Then God raised him up and healed him completely. Otherwise he would not have been able to continue his ministry.

Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead.
But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. … Acts 14:19–20 NIV

Was Paul really dead? Stoning was an execution. If he was only nearly dead, that was a miracle. If he could stand up and walk, when the stones had broken his bones, that too was a miracle. The furious Jews did not throw pebbles.

Did he go to heaven?

I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. 2 Cor 12:2 NIV

Did Paul testify of his own experience? Many Bible teachers believe so.

The second time he was beheaded and was immediately translated to heaven as a hero of the faith.

Have you sunk into despair? Do you think you can't take any more? Despite everything, Jesus has a good plan for you. Please don't give up.