Don’t Say You’re Finished Before God Does 
by Tommy Tenney

Discouragement is another diabolical key that opens the door for the thief to steal our goods. Perhaps you have awakened to a new day but felt just as bad as you did yesterday. In a moment of weary resignation and discouragement, you opened your mouth and released the fear that was in your heart: “He’s finished with me here. I give up.” I feel the anointing of God to tell you right now, you will not fail, and I have witnesses to prove it: Samson and Moses. Pick up where you left off! Restart your worship—reclaim your destiny!

Scripture Reading: Psalm 34:18–19, where the psalmist assures us God is near the brokenhearted, and saves those with a contrite or crushed spirit. 

The comments seem to come automatically with every new challenge human beings decide to accept: “I can’t do it. I look stupid—I know I do. This will never work. I wish I had never agreed to start this thing . . . It’s your fault.” Think of your first fumbling attempts to ride a bicycle, to glide on ice skates, to type without looking at the keyboard, or to play basketball or hit a baseball for the first time. Our ineptness seems staggering and overshadowing at times, but God sees the big picture. He knows that all we need is a God’s-eye view of the situation. Are you fumbling, falling, stumbling, or missing the mark somewhere in your life at the moment? Are you ready to quit an assignment God gave you to do? Don’t. Worship Him instead.

God said, “Don’t say you’re finished with something before I am finished with it. Now go back to the same place where you just witnessed a miracle if you want another one.” Don’t be surprised if God tells you to go right back to the last place you had a divine encounter . . . The moral of the story is this: don’t say you are finished before God does.

Never, ever forget that you are not in this thing alone. God is with you every step of the way, whether you “feel” Him or not. I am a determined God Chaser and I love to feel the joy of His presence, but I learned long ago that He never leaves or forsakes me. That means you cannot fail in Him, no matter how many times you fall, fail, falter, or fumble things. The key is to put Him first in everything all the time.

Prayer

Lord, how many times have I tried to quit something over the last five years? I’ve lost count, but I can tell You how many times You have “quit” on me—zero, never, not at all. As long as You stay with me, I will keep on dreaming, believing, climbing, overcoming, and getting up again. Even my failures and fumbles bring me gain—just another occasion to find comfort and joy unspeakable in Your everlasting arms. I love You, Lord.

Be Blessed