Sometimes the difficulties in life makes one feel like quitting. Giving
up. Throwing in the towel. Running away from things. I have realized that many people tend to quit just when things are about to get better, but because they quit they often miss out.

It seems that when life gets the hardest, when trials are the toughest, when roads seem to lead to no where, when our efforts are exhausted and we are physically, mentally and emotionally drained…we are faced with a choice. Give up the task or keep pushing forward.

In church I hear the term “give up” used two different ways. The first is TO give up as in to surrender ones own desires unto Jesus…let go and let God. The second is to NOT give up…don’t stop pressing forward and keep reaching for what God has asked of you or what He may want to show you. Which of these is appropriate? I believe it is both.

Asha’s Refuge has been a challenging organization to startup. The dynamics of working within the inner city poverty, alongside of the resettlement, other refugee agencies, underneath churches and among the ways of the world have certainly challenged and offered growth to us. There have been days when it seemed not many were interested in the direct hearts and needs of the people but entangled with trying to complete the day to day reports, requirements and tasks. At times I have felt tired of fighting and standing for what seemed obvious and right in my eyes and heart because I have felt I was too little to be able to make a difference in the bigness of the world of refugee needs. I have thought I was in over my head many times, but the Spirit of the Lord keeps telling me to “give up” my efforts in trying to box this organization into the way I think it should develop and let God lead us. At the same time, God has told me to NOT “give up”, but to keep on keeping on even when it feels dark, a bit lonely and hard.

Any time one sets out their heart to follow Jesus they can be assured that they will be tried by the enemy. Every since I have taken this leap to start an organization to help out the least of the least of these and share Jesus as I go I have been met with real difficulties. I won’t go into the details but I really believe that all around me, including within my family, Satan has been poking at me as He has tried to cause me to quit. I have weighed the thoughts of quitting, but I just CANNOT. I am compelled by the spirit, love and uplifted by His right hand to keep on keeping on. I have seen…and I can’t ignore.

Asha’s Refuge hasn’t had the building space to hold it’s English conversation classes in for a little while. It doesn’t stop us from making visits and encouraging our friends within their homes. Just as we may have felt like giving up, we haven’t. And…I believe the Lord will provide for us in our faithfulness. We will continue serving where He has called us to serve.

I believe God is showing glimpses that He is with us and will provide all that we need in His right time. We have a beautiful request from a church in the suburbs of Memphis to visit their property and consider them as a support church for our refugee initiatives with Asha’s Refuge and for space to meet on Fridays. They even have two buses AND drivers ready and willing to help transport our friends back and forth to our classes at their church. They have a place for our preschoolers to meet, play and learn. We also have commitments from another large church with volunteer ladies who are ready to serve. In addition, we have recently had real opportunities to share specifics about the Father with our friends. The Lord has a plan.

Please continue praying about how we may move forward and how you may be able to be involved. We are pressing on and giving up to our ways at the same time. Expect the unexpected.

(PS – I think this principle fits into my life too! I must give up my own ideas and ways but not give up in what the Lord has entrusted me with because it gets too hard and scary.)