A Time to Give Up

“a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,“ -Ecclesiastes 3:6

I’m about to share a personal story that actually happened to me. I'm not going into details, but I'll give enough details to make my point. I felt led to share, and I pray it blesses those who are struggling. Please understand, knowing when to give up, and throwing away things is just as important as not giving up until you receive that which your waiting for.

We tend to skip over verses like this one. They are a bit sad. It makes us feel uneasy. Nobody likes to give up or throw away anything. Especially, things we want or hoping for such as those secret hopes, dreams, and wishes. This is what I’m talking about.

I had been praying for years God would answer my prayer. Finally, I got a call. I’ll never forget it. First week in December, on a Thursday night, at around 9:30 PM. My friend was calling to tell me God miraculously, was answering my prayer. I couldn’t believe what God was doing. I told her, “Ok, I am going to repeat back everything I think I heard you say. And this isn’t a dream right? You actually called right? I’m awake right?” I wasn’t sure who was more excited her or I. My heart was pounding with excitement and bursting with joy. I couldn’t believe it.

It was exactly 3 months earlier, September, I was trying so hard to make what I wanted happen. I did everything I could do and then some. I finally went to God and said, “God, you know how hard I’ve tried. You know I have done everything. There’s nothing left for me to do. I give up. I don’t care anymore. I am removing my hands regarding this. If this is your will you will have to bring it yourself to my front door. I’m not going to do anything to help you.” I think God was waiting for me to get out of the way.

God, did exactly that, brought it to my front steps literally. I was in complete shock. For 6 months, I prepared; I kept everything quiet. Five people knew what was happening, only the five of us that were involved. I was counting down the days, waiting with joy and excitement. I couldn’t wait to make the big announcement to the world. I was thanking God for what He was about to bless me with.

The day finally arrived. I received what I had prayed for years about. I can’t describe the joy I felt. It was overwhelming. I was so emotionally overwhelmed in a wonderful way. Then, the unthinkable happened. What God had given me was about to be taken away. All of a sudden there was a change of heart, not on my part. I was stunned. I hadn’t seen it coming. I was now emotionally attached. My heart was completely broken, shattered into a million pieces. The person responsible was making demands, and I simply couldn't allow it.

I was sitting at my kitchen table, it was the last week of May, on a Friday morning (some dates you can never forget) I got another call. The caller was the person who was negotiating the deal. She told me of the person’s demands. I started to pray in my mind. I was confused, and scared to give up what I knew was God’s gift to me. Right there, God told me to be strong and walk away. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing from God or the negotiator. Really, I was hurting. Tears just flowed, I couldn’t stop them. I was so emotional I lost my voice for a few minutes. “Ms. Citro, you there?” The negotiator kept saying. I just didn’t have a voice to answer back.

I finally said, “You tell him I said I’m not a rabbit that he’s dangling a carrot in front of my eyes to get me to agree to his unreasonable, unrealistic, and ungodly behavior. You tell him I said he has until Monday, close of the day to sign those papers. Let me be very clear, if those papers are not signed by the end of the business day on Monday, he is not allowed to approach me again. You better not even try to reach me to change my mind. No matter how painful this is to me I will never ever, ever change my mind, nor meet any of his demands. You got that?” And, I’m sorry to admit, I told her to tell him where I felt he should go. I know, I sinned that day.

You see, this verse is very important. There are times we gotta give up, and throw away that which we so want. Sometimes, we just got to call the bluff. We have to step up and say, “No!” Sometimes the cost is way too much. As it was in my case. The negotiator said, “Ms. Citro, you sure you want to do this? I’m advising against this decision. You're making a huge mistake. Please think it over, please, I’m begging you. You wait until Monday, and then get back to me.”

I was tempted to go back on my word because I so badly wanted that gift from God. But, God, whispered in my ear, “No! Do not change your mind. Stand on what I just told you to do.” I said “No, please contact him and tell him what I said.” She agreed to tell him exactly what I instructed. Except for where I said he should go. Hey, thank God for her humor and for protecting me in the process. She knew I was hurting badly.

I got off the phone and I got on my knees, and I cried for a good while. I then told God I appreciated the gift that almost came to me, and as painful as this situation was, it was ok. I still trusted in His mercy, goodness, love, and His sovereignty. I asked He would take the sorrow I was feeling from this great loss away, heal my broken heart, bless those who were innocent, and going to pay a price for the evil actions of that man.

That was the longest weekend, and it was a holiday weekend. It meant the law offices were closed. I had to wait until Tuesday. I heard nothing in response to my message back to him. Finally, Tuesday arrived. I was gone the entire day. Then, at 6:15 PM, I turned the phones on. There it was a message from the negotiator. “Ms. Citro, congratulations! Come immediately, to my office. Contract signed just as you wanted. He backed down, and retrieved all of his demands. Congratulations! I must admit, I didn’t think he would give up everything he asked for. And he showed up at the lawyer's office at 4:55 PM, five minutes before the office closed. He went unannounced, signed the contract and left.”

God healed my broken heart alright; He granted what He had ordained for me to have. I didn’t have to agree to what was not of Him. I didn’t have to beg, plea, and engage in negotiations which were not of God. I just had to know when to walk away and give up so God could move in and do what He needed to do, His way, His perfect and best to bless me.

I shared this because so often we hold so tightly things that are not in our control to bring about. If you're in a position to make something happen and you don’t, then you deserve the misery, heartbreak, and the pain. However, if you are not in control to bring it about, then you are in control of letting it go. By letting it go you are acknowledging to God only He can do what is best for you.

God always blesses those who submit to His will and allow Him to give His best, not His second best. Please let go and give up what you know will come back to hurt you. God’s blessings don’t come to bring you sorrow and pain. They come to showcase God’s love to you. You don’t have to accept and agree to things that you know in your heart are going to bring trouble in your future.

Determine in your heart that you will not stand for anything that will hurt you in the long run. It’s ok to let it go. You're not giving up on your promises and dreams. You're giving up on those things that will destroy you. There’s a huge difference. Give up everything and anything that you feel is wrong in your heart. Let God bring you His very best. I promise you will not regret it.

Rev. Dr. Teresa Allissa Citro

Founder and President of Thread of Hope, Inc.

#destiny #faith #deliverance #TopicArticle #time #Godswill