2 Timothy 3:14
But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
Someone said to me about their trial, “But this affects my health and my life.” They were talking about an affliction that had come upon them that they could not control. Their mindset was that if one place affected their affliction, they would move to the next. The problem is, what about the will of God? The will of God is not controlled by circumstances that we control, but by what God wants for us to do. The will of God will not always put us in a place of ease, but it often puts us in an uncomfortable position in life; however, I cannot move if I am to continue living in God’s will for my entire life.
Paul told Timothy, But continue. Before Paul told Timothy to continue he said, all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. Paul was telling Timothy that when persecution came, he was to continue. Timothy was commanded not to let the persecution dictate what he did, but to let God’s will dictate the choice to continue.
You cannot control life’s circumstances. Too many jump from one place to the next in an attempt to control life’s circumstances, but they often jump out of God’s will and miss out on God’s blessings for their life. Continuing must be your mindset if you will live in God’s will for the rest of your life. Let me share some thoughts about this critical truth.
First, continuing is a choice you can control. I cannot control life’s circumstances, but I can control whether or not I continue. You can't control health circumstances, but you can control your choice to continue. You cannot control life’s trials, but you can control the choice not to quit. You cannot control what others do to you, but you can control that you will continue no matter what they do to you. The one thing you can control in life is your choice to continue despite what life throws at you.
Second, God has allowed what you are facing in life, and to run instead of continue is to attempt to be god. Joseph could not change what happened in his life, but he chose to continue, and God blessed him. Joseph said, Am I in the place of God? Joseph understood that God’s providential hand is what allowed him to face his trials, but he also knew that he must trust God to work all things for good if good was to come. God has allowed what you are facing in your life, and to fight against it by running from it only keeps you from seeing what God wants to do in your life. To run from what God has placed in your life no matter how uncomfortable it may be, is to tell God to get off His throne so you can run your life. You will never succeed by dethroning God from your life to manipulate and control your life circumstances and see good come from it.
Third, God’s grace is great enough to help you, but that grace cannot help you if you don't continue. You may have health problems that constantly afflict you, but God’s grace is great enough to help you continue. You may have trials that seem overwhelming and heavy to bear, but God’s grace is great enough to help you bear it if you will continue. You will never know the greatness of God’s grace until you choose to continue despite your life challenges. It should be said about you that though you suffer hardship and persecution, you chose to continue. Many will quit, but you must choose to continue if you are to see God’s will fulfilled in your life.