HOLD ON!

"So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord.  Remember the great reward it brings you!"  Hebrews 10:35 (NLT)

What do you do when things don't go as you planned?  This was a question that I had to ponder today for someone I know.  A few years ago this person made a business decision that they thought was the right thing moving forward, but since then, the "appearance" of that decision doesn't look the best.  HOLD ON!

I faced a similar situation last year, not with a business decision, but with my health.  Many know my story, but just to recap, I set out to have another BEST YEAR YET in 2016; I was planning on running 4 full marathons and just continue with the great momentum of 2015.  What took place wasn't something I had planned:  Prostate Cancer Diagnosis.  HOLD ON!

The above Bible verse from Hebrews is, to me, the best HOLD ON verse there is!  Years ago I was studying this out and found out that the first part of this verse ("...don't throw away...") had a nautical meaning to it.  It means to not let go of the rudder.  A "rudder" is a "guiding force" according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary.  Let's look at this a bit closer:

Let's say you are out on a lake in a small sailboat that had an old fashioned "stick" that you use to control the rudder...control the direction of the boat.  Now, imagine, all of a sudden, it get's VERY windy/stormy as you are out there.  This "storm" wasn't in the forecast, you didn't plan for it...get the picture?  THE hardest thing, physically, is to not let go.  Think about the strength it will take, the burn in your muscles as you fight against the pressure of the wind, so that you won't tip over.  It would be easy to let go and get, what you feel, is some type of relief from the agony and pain.  In order to not capsize, you MUST no let go or throw away or cast away the one thing that is keeping your from sinking.  THIS is what Heb. 10:35 is talking about:  HOLD ON!!  Hold on to what you know to be true even in the midst of the storm.  

This is what I had to do last May and what I continue to do today.  HOLD ON!  This is the VERY words of encouragement I voiced to my friend who is doubting his business decision from a couple of years ago.  

Having a BEST YEAR YET doesn't mean you are not going to be challenged with "stuff."  It might not come in a struggling business or health issues...but it might.  The question is, are you going to let go or HOLD ON?  Notice the final part of Heb. 10:35, "Remember the great reward it brings you!"  Having a BEST YEAR YET means that through it all, you will not let go or compromise what you believe whether there's a storm on the horizon or the sky is sunny!  

Don't let go and HOLD ON to your BEST YEAR YET!