WHEN I ALMOST GAVE UP

This powerful message confronts one of the most honest struggles we face in our spiritual journey: the temptation to give up when faithfulness seems unrewarded. Drawing from Psalm 73, we encounter Asaph's raw confession—his feet had almost slipped, not because of sin, but because of exhaustion from doing right. He watched the wicked prosper while he struggled, and this observation nearly destroyed his faith. The turning point comes in verse 17: 'Until I went into the sanctuary of God.' This isn't just about physical church attendance; it's about getting God's perspective on our circumstances. When we're weary from serving, giving, praying, and living right while others seem to coast through life with no consequences, we need divine perspective. The message challenges us to examine our motives—are we serving for applause or for God? It reminds us that leadership exists everywhere in creation, from bee hives to elephant herds to flocks of geese, and that following the right leader determines our survival. Most importantly, it calls us to remember that our service isn't ultimately for people who may never appreciate us, but for the God who always sees. The phrase 'be not weary in well-doing, for in due season you shall reap if you faint not' becomes our anchor when appreciation runs dry and criticism runs high.