The Sacrifice: The Cost of Never Giving Up!
Have you
noticed that all of us humans have at least one thing in common? We
become easily discouraged! When adversity stirs up in our lives and
trouble stares us in the face, we tend to isolate ourselves. And in so
doing, we lose all energy for making a God-difference in this world.
Violette was born in Paris in 1921. Growing up, she spent time in
both Great Britain and France. On Bastille Day, 1940, her mother
suggested that she invited a French soldier from the free French forces
to dinner to celebrate with the family who resided in Great Britain at
that time. Two months later they were married, and her husband, Etienne,
was send to West Africa.
Violette gave birth to a daughter on
June 8, 1942, and she named her Tania. Unfortunately Etienne would never
be able to meet his daughter. He was killed in October of that year,
during the battle of El Alamein.
Violette could have become
easily discouraged, but she didn't. When she was approached to join
Special Operations Executive, whose goal was to organize, train and
supply the underground resistance forces in France, she quickly joined
up. She then underwent several months of training before she
participated in her first mission on April 5, 1944. The mission was a
complete success.
Days before D-Day she accepted her second
mission in France. Her task was to create as many disruptions among the
enemy forces as possible, in support of the D-Day landings. On June 10,
1944, while driving to make contact with another circuit, she was
stopped at a Nazi road block near the village of Salon-la-Tour. One of
her two passengers was able to escape, but Violette and Dufour, the
other passenger, were forced to fight for survival.
Knowing how
important Dufour was to the circuit, Violette insisted he get away,
while she gave him covering fire. She was arrested and sent to
Ravensbruck where she suffered from forced labor and near starvation.
Nevertheless, she never gave up.
Sometime in January, 1945,
Violette, and two other British spies, were led through an alleyway into
a yard near the camp cemetery. They were forced on their knees and shot
in the neck. Even though she lost her life, Violette was more than
victorious, for she never gave in to discouragement.
In 1947,
Violette's four and a half year-old daughter Tania, received the George
Cross on her behalf.
Imagine if Violette had given in to
discouragement. What would have happened to the cause? Imagine if many
of the Allied forces had also become discouraged? Would France and the
rest of Europe ever have been liberated? But they didn't cave to
discouragement. They had a mission!
Why are we under attack?
Simply said, "The accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them
before our God day and night . . ." (Revelation 12:10, NIV2)
We
have an enemy that is more than determined to lead us into
discouragement. Why? The answer is found in Hebrews 3:13-14: "But
encourage one another daily, as long as it is called 'Today,' so that
none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. We have come to
share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the
very end."
The evil one's purpose is to harden us by "sin's
deceitfulness"!!!
What happens when we are completely
discouraged? We isolate ourselves and we stop reaching out to others.
After all, when we are feeling discouraged, how can we even imagine
helping others! And so God's work is stopped in its tracks, and we find
ourselves "hardened by sin's deceitfulness". We have been completely
neutralized by the enemy, totally cut off from all sources of
encouragement! We become puppets of the enemy, whose only purpose is to
destroy us (See John 10:10)!
We have been told that we can learn
a lot from history. It's so true!
When don't people listen to
God's message?
"Moses reported this to the Israelites, but they
did not listen to him because of their discouragement and harsh labor."
(Exodus 6:9, NIV2)
What hinders us from being victorious in the
name of the Lord?
"After they went up to the Valley of Eshkol and
viewed the land, they discouraged the Israelites from entering the land
the LORD had given them." (Numbers 32:9, NIV2)
What is the
message that God is trying to give us?
"See, the LORD your God
has given you the land. Go up and take possession of it as the LORD, the
God of your ancestors, told you. Do not be afraid; do not be
discouraged." (Deuteronomy 1:21, NIV2)
"He said: "Listen, King
Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the
LORD says to you: 'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast
army. For the battle is not yours, but God's." (2 Chronicles 20:15,
NIV2)
"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged
because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is
a greater power with us than with him." (2 Chronicles 32:7, NIV2)
Why shouldn't we let ourselves be discouraged?
"For the
battle is not yours, but God's." (2 Chronicles 20:15c, NIV2)
"There is a greater power with us than with him." (2 Chronicles 32:7,
NIV2)
Why do we try to carry these burdens by ourselves, when the
battle is not even ours? Why do we convince ourselves that
discouragement is our sole venue? Isn't the One who is with us far
greater in power than all of our adversities put together?
In all
reality, we let ourselves be defeated way too easily, me included! "You,
dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who
is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." (1 John 4:4,
NIV)
Victory is ours, if we stand firm and trust in the promises
from God. King David confidently could declare "Though an army besiege
me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then
will I be confident. One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to
gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. For in
the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me
in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock." (Ps
27:3-5, NIV) We can be confident as well.
Would you like to be an
overcomer? Put your trust in God. Hope from God is what will sustain
you! Bye-bye discouragement! I now realize that the battle is not mine
but the Lord's! Thank you Heavenly Father!
Rob Chaffart
Why are we So Easily Discouraged?
From:
"Illustrator" <a2p@PROTECTED>
Date:
November 2nd 2013
Today's Bible Verse:
"But encourage one another daily, as long as it is
called 'Today,' so that none of you may be hardened by sin's
deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our
original conviction firmly to the very end." (Hebrews 3:13-14)
Why are we So Easily Discouraged?
Announcement:
Do you have a Bible question you would like to see answered? Why not submit it to us. We have dedicated volunteers who would gladly take the time to find your answers.
- This mailing list is a public mailing list - anyone may join or leave, at any time.
-
This mailing list is announce-only.
This newsletter is dedicated to bringing people closer to the Lord through thought-provoking inspirational stories. It is published every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
Privacy Policy:
Our Privacy policy
We will never share, sell, or rent your individual personal information and email address with anyone without your advance permission or unless ordered by a court of law.
How can you stop receiving our newsletters?
Each newsletter sent contains an easy, automated way for you to cease receiving our newsletter. If you wish to do this, simply follow the instructions at the end of any newsletter.
If you have received unwanted, unsolicited email sent via this system or purporting to be sent via this system, please forward a copy of that email with your comments to webmaster@answers2prayer.org for review.