We’ve been talking a lot about hope recently. This is something really relevant for us in this day and age because sometimes things just feel so hopeless. But God’s word reminds us in Romans 5 to press on. Perseverance produces character, and this character produces hope. No matter how hopeless things get, remember, hope says that it’s not over and that there is more in store. As I think about hope, I’m reminded of a poem I came to love many years ago. It’s called “Don’t Quit”, and I believe it will be an inspiration to us all.
“Don’t Quit”
by John Greenleaf Whittier
When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you’re trudging seems all up hill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but don’t you quit.
Life is strange with its twists and turns
As every one of us sometimes learns
And many a failure comes about
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don’t give up though the pace seems slow—
You may succeed with another blow.
Success is failure turned inside out—
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell just how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far;
So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit—
It’s when things seem worst that you must not quit.
- Deputy Senior Pastor Daniel Khong