My wife Marta and I got back from the coast on Saturday afternoon.  We had a great time.  Our daughter and her husband and their two girls went with us.  We went swimming, played on the beach, fished late into the night and had a great time.  The last night Marta and I went fishing and it was the best night of fishing of the entire trip but it didn’t start out so good.  I had bought a new wire fish basket to use because I find it more convenient than using a stringer and as I was getting ready to tie it to the dock I dropped the basket in the water.  You guessed it, I had not yet tied the rope to the basket.

This particular wire basket floats and I watched as the waves began to carry it away.  I called out to my wife and let her know that I had dropped the new basket and then a phrase came into my mind.  It was one that my 3 year old granddaughter Avery had said several times during the week, “I won’t give up!”  Avery says it while playing catch, practicing somersaults and especially while trying to get Pawpaw to give her an extra cookie.  I said it as I saw that wire fish basket being carried away by the ocean waves.  Maybe I could cast out there and catch it with one of those lures that hadn’t caught a fish in the last 3 days.  It was worth a try and I wasn’t going to just watch that fifteen dollar wire fish basket float away.  Not me!  I won’t give up!  I snagged the basket on about the fourth try!  Marta and I laughed and she pointed out that I had been inspired by little Avery.  Yes, I had been inspired not to give up by a 3 year old.  I am glad to see that she is learning and using biblical principles.  The Bible says in Proverbs 21:5 “The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage.”

Diligence is a great behavior for God’s people to demonstrate.  Not giving up serves us well.  I sometimes get a little bit weary of the way people apply the phrase, “Everything happens for a reason.”  Yes, things do happen for a reason.  Baskets fall into the ocean because we forget to tie them to the dock.  Waves carry them out of our reach because we just sit and watch and do nothing.  Things do happen for a reason.  I would rather them not happen because I gave up and did nothing.

Maybe there is something that you have not tended to properly and now you think it is lost and out of reach for good.  Maybe it seems as if the waves of time and neglect have carried it too far away.  Don’t give up so easily.  Nothing is impossible for our Lord.  He who gave Lazarus new life can give new life to relationships, careers and to our walk of faith!  Oh Christian don’t give up.  Pray.  Ask the Lord for insight as to how you might regain that which was lost unto you.  He promises in His word that He will give wisdom to all who ask.  He promises to never leave you nor forsake you.  He promises to strengthen you to do the things that are in His will.  He will help you regroup, He will help you make some plans.  He will give you the strength to diligently pursue that which has been lost.  The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage.