Each of us has some goals that we want to achieve in life. In trying to reach the goals, it is easy to allow the challenges of life to take the passion out of reaching these goals. We know that as we press toward the prize for winning, challenges will come. Challenges come to us in various shapes and sizes. They come from many directions; we are bombarded from many outside influences of opposition; others are from internal walls built from past failures. Even our own families or peers may unknowingly use discouraging words as roadblocks along the path to conquer the mountains. All of these together seem to sing in unison, “Are we discouraged yet?”
We must never forget that with God on our side, can make it! Many times people will want to count us out but “It’s not over until it’s over!” Some will tell us to give up because we cannot make it--“It’s not over until it’s over!” Others will tell us that we will never amount to anything because of our past actions--“It’s not over until it’s over!”
Therefore, I ask, “Who determines when it’s over?” There is a tremendous Scripture in Zechariah that tells how God spoke to Zerubbabel about a tremendous task, "You can't force these things. They only come about through my Spirit,' says God -of-the-Angel-Armies. 'So, big mountain, who do you think you are? Next to Zerubbabel you're nothing but a molehill. He'll proceed to set the Cornerstone in place, accompanied by cheers: Yes! Yes! Do it!'"[1]
In the same Scripture, God tells Zerubbabel not to worry about those who would criticize for small beginnings or taking those baby steps; because they will look in amazement when they see what you eventually accomplish. We must remember that, He will never give us a task, whether great or small, that He does not give us the strength to accomplish it.
The former New York Yankees catcher, Yogi Berra once said: “It ain’t over ‘till it’s over.” Now Yogi was no theologian, but he unknowingly expressed one of the greatest principles in the Christian life. It doesn’t really matter much how one starts; what matters is how one finishes. Victory is won at the finish line, not at the starting line. Life is a marathon that requires endurance and a lifetime commitment to keep running with the intent of finishing strong. “It isn’t over ‘till it’s over” also serves to remind us that even if we have fallen far behind in the race there is still time to finish well.
For those who place their trust in God, He is the One that will determine when it is over. A group of kids was playing baseball and the team on the field was down eighteen to nothing. A spectator said to one of the losing team members, “You must be pretty discouraged with a score like that.” The boy replied, “No. I’m not discouraged; we haven’t had our turn at bat yet.”
It is time to look at the goals again and change all the negatives in our life to, “I can.” “I will.” I see.” “I have.” It not enough just to “think I can,” we must have the confidence to be able to say, “I know I can!”
“Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.”[2]
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