The motivational quote read, “Small minds cannot comprehend big spirits. To be great you have to be mocked, hated, and misunderstood. Stay strong.” These are simple words, but ones that inspire us to pursue in spite of the pressure to quit.
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All of us face hurdles. They can come in the form of the misinformed who will do their best to undermine whatever success they feel we have achieved. They can arise because of the jealous who have no respect for themselves and therefore cannot respect others. They can be the haters whose sharp tongues will devise a way to cast a negative perspective on our limited accomplishments. In some form we all face negativity and with it the temptation to quit.
All of our stories are similar. Mine is much like yours. I’m just a farm boy, far from wealthy, attended the school of hard knocks and know very little. The only thing I really know is — you never forget where you came from and you never give up on where you’re going.
All of us have learned, in spite of the difficulties, we have no choice but to push forward continuing to believe in the dream and passion that compels us. There’s no excuse not to nock another arrow, write another article, or run another mile. Success is never achieved by quitting.
As a Christ follower I see a parallel.
We call this Passion Week because Someone identified with the motivational quote far better than any of us. The Hebrew writer penned, “…looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.” Heb. 12:2,3
No matter what difficulties we face in life, we can put our confidence in Someone who took our sin and can identify with our difficult moments. Remember during this week, He was mocked, hated and misunderstood for you. Jesus didn’t and hasn’t given up. (And neither should we.)
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
