Until the Whistle Blows!

My oldest son Josh played offensive line on his football team when he was younger.  Solid and strong, Josh’s job on the line was to hold the defensive line back long enough for the quarterback to do his job.  The offensive line isn’t the most glamorous job on the field, but when they don’t do their job well, everyone is quick to see.  Normally, these steadfast men hold firm, protecting their guy.

Sitting at the practices night after night, I noticed a common issue among the novice players on the field.  They often stopped blocking too soon.   Shouts of “Block ‘til the whistle blows!” filled the sweaty September night, and time and time again the tired players lined back up and tried again. 

The boys knew what they were supposed to do, but often gave up when they thought the play was over.  Other times they gave up because holding back a powerful defensive player was tiring.  Unfortunately, the play wasn’t over until the coach or referee blew the whistle.  Until that whistle blew, anything could happen. 

I’ve realized this is often what happens in our own lives – especially in the area of ministry.  It gets tiring serving others – especially when we don’t see results.  It gets tiring praying for people – especially when God’s answer seems to be “Not yet.”  It gets tiring forgiving those who hurts us – especially when it keeps happening.

So many women I meet these days are simply tired.  I know  because at times, I’m one of them.  Some days I’m confident.  But other days I’m just tired … tired of dieting …  tired of feeling overwhelmed with problems … tired of feeling inadequate to solve those problems … and so on. 

But quitting isn’t an option.  That’s why praying for each other is so powerful.  We need the prayers of our sisters in order to press on in spite of being tired.  Here’s what Colossions 1:9-12 says about praying for each other:

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.

If you are feeling tired today, please post a comment so your sisters can pray for you.   We know you are facing your own battles today, and want to be there for you. 

Then just like those football players, we will keep going till the whistle blows.   Or as the Bible says, till the trumpet sounds:

“At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.”   Matthew 24:30-30.

God bless you today!

Glynnis

www.GlynnisWhitwer.com