Bob Goff really wanted to be a lawyer. He applied to law school, but got rejected.

Undeterred, he went to the dean’s office. Goff said that the dean had the power to let him into the school. If he said four words–“Go buy your books”–he would change his life forever for the better. 

But the dean turned him down. This scenario repeated itself multiple times. Goff camped out at his office, but no. He saw him at the gym., but no. The dean wouldn’t bend.

The first day of school came and went. The first week came and went. Goff never gave up even though he was falling behind in his classes. And at the end of that first week, Goff approached the dean yet again. Something must have changed with the dean. Perhaps he saw something he didn’t see before because he finally said those four words: “Go buy your books.” 

Later, Goff wrote this about his experience: “Maybe there are times when we think a door has been closed and, instead of misinterpreting the circumstances, God wants us to kick it down. Or perhaps just sit outside of it long enough until somebody tells us we can come in.”*

Jesus told a similar story in Luke 18. A widow wanted a judge to grant her justice. He couldn’t be bothered. He didn’t care about her, nor did he care about God. He preferred to be left alone. But because she was so persistent, he relented. Jesus explains the meaning of the parable: to “always pray and not give up” (verse 1).

The same is true for you.

Have you been waiting for something? Have you been praying for something? Have you been working for something? 

Don’t. Give. Up.

‘No’ today doesn’t necessarily mean ‘no’ tomorrow.

Perhaps that is a message you need to hear.

Wait in hope. Pray without ceasing. Work for the good of others and the glory of God.

Don’t. Give. Up.

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Notes:

–*Bob Goff, Love Does (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2012), 44-45. 

–Bible quotes are from the NIV.