Dear Friends of Mexico Ministries:
“Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never-in nothing, great or small, large or petty - never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense.” Those are the words Winston Churchill famously spoke early into World War II, a devastating time for England and the rest of the world as it was overwhelmed with shock and grief.
Job comes to mind as perhaps the prime example of a biblical character who faced devastation but never gave up. He lost everything - his possessions, his family, his health, the respect of his wife and friends, but, he never gave up. You know how Job’s story ends: he endured, and had his life restored and made even stronger.
I also think of the story of Ruth. A Moabite (not the most respected people in the Old Testament!), she lost everything including her husband, but determined to return with her mother-in-law Naomi to Judah. “Where you go, I will go. Where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.” Ruth never gave up. Never, never, never. And she became the great grandmother of King David and the ancestor of Jesus Christ.
Add to these the story of my friend Jose Zavala Santos. Jose was a young man in our church in Atoyac when he was driving into the mountains with his family. He ran off the road and rolled his vehicle several times. Five of his family members died in that accident and only he survived. Devastating. Life changing. But he never gave up. Never, never, never. A few years ago I laid hands on him and set him in as pastor for the church in Atoyac, and on the back of this letter you can see a photo of him and his family in front of the church.
Never give up! In times of difficulty remember these stories of endurance in the face of hardship and devastation. God has promised to be with you. He promises to never leave you nor forsake you. Never, never, never.
God bless you,
Larry