Do we have any faint-nots reading this post? Are you a faint-not? Ok. Time for a moment of transparency. I wasn’t always a member of the illustrous group called The Faint-Nots. Matter of fact, there’s a theory called fight or flight. I was convinced that God never gave me the fight ability. If something was difficult or caused stress, I took that as a sign that it wasn’t for me. I’m sure that’s why I need two opportunities to obtain a Doctorate. Needless to say, I wasn’t a member of The Faint-Nots. However, the founder of The Faint-Nots determined that my name would appear on the roster. Life sent me through years of challenge and now, I’m a proud member of The Faint-Nots. Will you join me?
The Story: 1 Samuel 1:7
1 Samuel 1 chronicles the story of Hannah and her quest for a son. As was the custom in those days, her loving husband had two wives. One woman bore children while Hannah couldn’t. Despite the challenges in this household, he loved her most. However, his love and affection couldn’t quench her desire for a child. 1 Samuel 1:7 shows that year after year she asked for the same thing from God – a child. Her desire was immense that all she could was weep and not eat. Although each year, she found that her condition didn’t change. Eventually, her proper time came and she bore a son named Samuel, who she dedicated back to God.
The Lesson
Hannah’s story makes her a stellar member of The Faint-Nots. She remained committed to her heart’s desire for a child. In addition, she remained in the house with her husband and the other wife, who had children. She remained steadfast even though someone else had the only thing she wanted. Please know that Hannah wasn’t jealous. She simply believed God would give her a child eventually.
Jeremiah 29:11 proclaims that God has a hope and a future for us. However, He doesn’t say that there won’t be obstacles, roadblocks, or detours on the way to purpose. Nor does the Bible say that if we quit, God will change His mind about the assignment. I’m a living witness of this. I’ve prayed and asked God on several occasions regarding His plan for me. Although I felt unqualified and created delay, His response has never changed. Therefore, I’ve learned to embrace the title of The Faint-Not and adhere to the motto of Galatians 6:9 AMP:
“Let us not grow weary or become discouraged in doing good, for at a proper time, we will reap if we do not give in.”
So, if you would like to join The Faint-Nots, here’s what I learned:
- Seek God. God created a plan for us before the foundation of the world, which included in His Son, Jesus. Since He has the plan, stick to Him.
- Communicate with God. Like Hannah, make the request known. Fancy words aren’t required. He simply wants to talk to you.
- Remind yourself that you’re alreay equipped. God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called. Therefore, you lack nothing to fulfill the assignment.
- Surround yourself with true supporters. These are people who will lift you if you’re down. They will tell you to press on without excuses. They will see all the reasons why you can.
- Remember the motto of Galatians 6:9. The promise is yours if you don’t quit. The process is worth it once you arrive to the destination.
Therefore, let all The Faint-Nots arise!
