The Day I Quit

Praise the Lord! I want to welcome you to today's service and ....
My pastor's voice trailled off as I was caught by this write up in the sunday bulletin.
And without paying any further attention to what my pastor was saying as he stood in front of the congregation, I started to read. As soon as I finished reading it, I immediately knew it was something I wanted to publish on my blog and just so you know it was written by my pastor(Pastor Sam Obafaiye).
Here is what I read:

One day I decided to quit...
I quit my studies, my relationship, my spirituality...I wanted to quit my living! I though of faking a fall, and then I would deliberately hit my head on the wall. But I did'nt. I later resolved to ask God to take my life instead, but He would not answer my plea.
I was in the hospital, having been to many before this, dying from a supernatural attack that defied all diagnosis but yet the effects so vivid and terribly painful. So I decided to have one last talk with God. "God", I asked, "Can you give me one good reason not to quit life now? Why is my life so difficult? Why do others have life so easy?"
His answer surprised me...He showed me a figurative scenerio of different kinds of people which could be likened to this short parable.

"Look around", He said, "Do you know the fern and the bamboo?" "Yes", I replied.
"When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds together, I took very good care of them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grew from the earth. It's brilliant green covered the floor yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo.
In the second year, the fern grew more vibrant and plentiful.
And agian, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo" He said.
"In the third year, there was still nothing from the bamboo seed but I would not quit.
In the fourth year, again there was nothing from the bamboo seed. I would not quit." He said.
"Then in the fifth year, a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant...But just 6 months later, the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall!
It had spent the last five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive many human generations."
"I would not give my beloved a challenge too difficult to handle" (I Peter 4:12-19).
He then asked me, "Did you know, my child that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing tougher roots? Just like I would not quit on the bamboo, I will never quit on you! Dont compare yourself to others. The 'Banboo' (which you will be) has a different Purpose from the 'Ferns' that you see. Yet, they both make the forest beautiful."
"Your time will come." God said to me. "You will rise high".
"How high will I rise?" I asked.
"How how will the bamboo rise?" He asked in return.
"As high as it can?" I questioned.
"Yes." He said. "Give me glory by rising as high as you can."

I left the hospital few days afterwards and for several months began a long recovery process. Armed with faith in God again, I went back to school, built up my relationship again.
I've not reached the height that will glorify God yet, but I'm still rising.

I hope these words can help you see that God will never give up on you.
Never give up on Him or yourself either. He said, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end". (Jer 29:11)