Are you at the end of your rope? Do you want to give up? I have noticed a pattern over the years. At the very moment I am ready to throw in the towel, God intervenes. Occasionally I want to throw in the towel, and get completely out of ministry. The expectations are beyond what I can handle on some days, and so I dream of being a stocker in a grocery store. Facing the green beans on the shelf can sound really appealing. I did that kind of work at Safeway back in 1979. 30 years later it still sounds good.

The last time I felt the urge to put in an application at the local grocery store I spoke with someone whom I trust implicitly, and unloaded all of my frustrations. The pattern prevailed.
God puts people in our lives to bless us, when we are ready to give up. The grocery store lost out. I would have been a great stocker. The Del Monte green beans would have been displayed to perfection. After that conversation, for some reason my mind traveled back to 1986…I thought about a man named Eugene.

Eugene is deceased now. He was a successful farmer from the Texas Panhandle. In 1986, I was a typical struggling graduate student. Tuition at a private university for ministry training was expensive. I had an 80% scholarship, but that still left another 20% that was not covered. That 20% might as well have been the national debt. One evening Jan and I were having a personal financial summit when the phone rang. Our conversation about how to pay the tuition for that spring semester was interrupted by a call from Eugene. He had heard me preach my very first, and I do mean my very first sermon. He also knew I was in school seeking a master’s degree in Biblical Studies. The phone conversation was simple. He simply asked how much I needed to pay my tuition. I told him about the 20% figure. He said he would send a check the next day in the amount of $1,000.00. In 1986, that was enough money to pay my portion of the tuition, and have enough left to purchase books for the courses as well. He proceeded to send a check every semester until I graduated during the summer of 1987.

God’s timing is always perfect. I had no idea how I was going to pay my school bill that semester. I was working two jobs as well as taking a full load of courses.
God used Eugene on that January day in 1986. He used his generosity to help a student complete his degree. I even finished debt free. I am still using some of the things I learned that semester 23 years later. In a sense, Eugene’s generosity is still blessing people long after his death.

I needed to be reminded of Eugene today. Specifically I neededto be reminded that someone in my little corner of the world is discouraged, and ready to give up. I may not have a lot of money to give, but I can certainly share a kind or encouraging word.
I can ask God to lead me to someone who wants to throw in the towel and give up. In my case, it might be good to work a little harder on the next sermon to be delivered. Perhaps that particualr message could help someone from throwing in the towel. I don’t want Eugene’s investment to go to waste! His legacy of encouragement and generosity is worth passing on. Are you ready to throw in the towel? Don’t despair. Help is on the way.