Throwing in the Towel? - by Rev. Weldon Bares

The expression comes from the early days of boxing. If a manager wanted to stop the fight, he would throw the towel in the ring, and the fight would then be stopped. We are often tempted to "throw in the towel" on a relationship, a job, or a project. Allow me to say a word in favor of persistence.

Consider some well-known figures from history. John Milton rose at 4:00 every morning to devote time to writing “Paradise Lost.” The British Museum preserves 75 drafts of Thomas Gray’s “Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard.” Ernest Hemingway reportedly revised the manuscript of “The Old Man and the Sea” 80 times.

Michelangelo’s Last Judgment is regarded as one of the greatest paintings ever created, a work that took him more than five years to complete. Among his papers, scholars have discovered over 2,000 preparatory studies for the piece. Similarly, Leonardo da Vinci labored over The Last Supper for a full decade.

James Watt dedicated 30 years to developing the condensing steam engine. George Stephenson devoted 15 years to perfecting the locomotive. In a similar spirit, the Apostle Paul declared, “I press on toward the mark” (Philippians 3:14). Though he faced setbacks and deep disappointments, he never gave up. Throughout his life, he continued to “press on” with unwavering faithfulness.

Are you feeling discouraged today? Thinking about giving up and “throwing in the towel”? I want to encourage you to pause and reconsider. The breakthrough you’re waiting for might be just around the corner. You may be closer to victory than you realize. So today, with God’s help, hold on. Don't give up. Let's press on!