Don’t give up! Don’t stop! Don’t quit!
This dramatic, true story by Pastor Greg Davis entitled, “This is My Story: Persevering through Pain,” is from news.ag.org.
It was the happiest moment of our lives. After an eight-year struggle with infertility, my wife, Nancy, and I welcomed our son, Colton, into the world. Finally, life seemed perfect.
But that perfection lasted only two hours. When I went to the hospital nursery to check on Colton, I discovered he was not there. Our baby had been rushed to the neonatal intensive care unit.
It would be the first of many dire health crises our family experienced. During the years that followed, Colton underwent a number of coronary procedures, including six open-heart surgeries. Nancy battled an autoimmune disease that nearly took her life. Our newly adopted infant daughter, Anna Grace, was diagnosed with brain cancer just weeks after we brought her home from China. I suffered a heart attack and two brain aneurysms.
We navigated these ordeals while pastoring a growing church, with all the typical challenges of ministry.
Everyone faces seasons of adversity. Some problems arise because of our own bad choices. But when we experience intense storms while following God in obedience, it can push faith to the breaking point — or refine and strengthen it.
As a family, we have made intentional efforts to focus on God’s goodness instead of life’s trials. Despite the adversity, we have certainly had much to celebrate. Among other things, we survived and recovered. Each of us is healthy today.
Of course, I still struggled with unanswered questions at times. It was hard to comprehend why God was allowing so much pain even as I pursued His calling. Then, a few years ago, the Lord brought me to a pivotal moment that changed everything.
One morning, as I was sitting outside having my devotions, I started pouring out my heart to the Lord. I brought Him my pain and unanswered questions.
My Bible was still open to 2 Corinthians 1. I had just read verses 3-4: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”
Suddenly, the Holy Spirit drew my attention to the words “so that” in the text. I became aware of God’s desire to use my testimony for His glory. Just as He comforts and sustains me, the Lord wants me to help others who are struggling — so they too can come out on the other side better, not bitter.
That word from the Lord changed my perspective on all the hardships we had endured. I realized my new assignment was to reach as many people as possible with the comfort, encouragement, and hope God had given my family and me.
The Apostle Paul declared, “Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14). Just as Pastor Greg Davis found strength in the Lord to continue – to persevere – so also the Lord is calling us to press on to win the prize. What is the prize? Jesus Himself is the prize, and all that He has for us. So don’t get distracted by anything or anyone along the course. Don’t fall by the wayside! Don’t take a detour! Don’t give up! Don’t stop! Don’t quit! Press On Toward the Goal! Keep going – straight ahead! Imua for Jesus!
This Sunday, September 20, we will continue our study through the Book of Philippians, “Unshakable Joy!” with “Press On Toward the Goal!” (3:12-16). Please invite someone to join you at the 10:35am worship service in the building or online for the Live broadcast on either Facebook (Honolulu AG) or our YouTube channel (Honolulu Assembly of God). We Livestream every Sunday to both locations and would love to have you join us!
The “Celebration of Life” service for Filipo Sipelii will be on Saturday, September 26, at 12pm here at Honolulu Assembly of God. The service for my dad, William Ashpole, will be on Saturday, October 3, at 1pm at Faith Assembly in Mililani (95-121 Waimakua Drive). Dad’s service will be Livestreamed at https://faithag.subspla.sh/fpy26tb.
Aloha and Aloha ke Akua!
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