Holding On

Devotional

Day 1: Stand Your Ground When Others Retreat

When the world around you gives up or walks away, you are called to stand firm in faith, even if you find yourself alone on the front lines. The story of Eleazar reminds us that when everyone else retreated, he stood his ground and fought, refusing to let the culture or the crowd dictate his convictions. In a time when many are looking for an easy exit or a reason to quit, God calls His people to be the ones who remain steadfast, shining as examples of courage and faithfulness. Your willingness to stand when others retreat can be the very thing that inspires others and brings light to dark places. [09:48]

2 Samuel 23:9-10 (ESV)
"And next to him among the three mighty men was Eleazar the son of Dodo, son of Ahohi. He was with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle, and the men of Israel withdrew. He rose and struck down the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clung to the sword. And the Lord brought about a great victory that day, and the men returned after him only to strip the slain."

Reflection: When have you felt tempted to give up or walk away from something God called you to? What would it look like for you to stand your ground in that area today, even if you feel alone?

Day 2: Shine Bright in the Darkness

God has ignited a light within you not to be hidden, but to shine brightly for all to see, especially in the midst of trials and darkness. Your joy and hope are not rooted in your circumstances but in the God who lives inside you, and the world desperately needs to see that light. When you refuse to let the enemy extinguish your fire, you become a beacon of hope for others, showing them that God’s love and power are real and available even in the hardest times. Let your life be a testimony that the battle is not meant to destroy you, but to set you up as one of God’s mighty people who shine for His glory. [12:20]

Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV)
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."

Reflection: Who in your life needs to see the light of Christ shining through you this week? What is one specific way you can let your light shine for them today?

Day 3: Tighten Your Grip on God’s Word

When the battle gets hard and you feel weary, it’s time to tighten your grip on the Word of God, for it is your sword and your strength. Just as Eleazar’s hand clung to his sword, you are called to hold fast to Scripture, letting it anchor you in every season. Opening your Bible each day is not just a ritual—it is an act of faith that strengthens your resolve and connects you to the very presence of God. Even when you feel like you can’t hold on any longer, remember that God’s Word is holding on to you, giving you the faith and endurance to keep going. [16:40]

Ephesians 6:17 (ESV)
"And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,"

Reflection: What is one verse or promise from God’s Word that you need to cling to right now? How can you make time today to meditate on it and let it strengthen your grip?

Day 4: Fight the Good Fight of Faith

Faith is not proven in comfort but in conflict, and you are called to fight the good fight, taking hold of the eternal life God has promised. There will be moments when you want to give up, when the struggle feels too much, but it is in these moments that your faith shines brightest. God’s promise is not that life will be easy, but that He will be with you, strengthening you to endure and overcome. When you feel weak, know that God is holding on to you, and His grace is sufficient to carry you through to the promise on the other side of the battle. [14:25]

1 Timothy 6:12 (ESV)
"Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses."

Reflection: Where in your life do you feel the fight is hardest right now? What would it look like to keep fighting in faith, trusting God to hold on to you even when you feel weak?

Day 5: Don’t Give Up—God’s Not Done Yet

No matter how broken or hopeless your situation may seem, God still has a promise, a plan, and a victory for you if you refuse to give up. Like Juliana Koepke, who survived against all odds by choosing to get up and keep moving, you are faced with a choice: to sit in the wreckage or to rise and fight for the life God has for you. Even when you feel at your breaking point, God is with you, urging you not to quit but to keep holding on. Your perseverance may be the very thing that leads you into the fulfillment of God’s purpose and inspires others to keep going as well. [31:50]

Galatians 6:9 (ESV)
"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up."

Reflection: Is there a dream, relationship, or calling you’ve been tempted to give up on? What is one step you can take today to keep moving forward and trust that God is not finished with your story?

Sermon Summary

It’s a joy to be in the house of the Lord, surrounded by people who have shaped my life and faith journey. Reflecting on my own story, I’m reminded of how God uses relationships and moments of grace to draw us closer to Him. From being a rebellious teenager caught smoking, to being invited to a youth camp by a pastor who believed in me, I experienced firsthand the power of someone standing in the gap and investing in another’s future. That simple act of generosity changed my life, leading me to surrender to Jesus and step into a calling I never imagined.

We all face battles—some visible, some hidden. The story of Eleazar in 2 Samuel 23 is a powerful reminder that when others retreat, we are called to stand our ground. Eleazar stood alone when everyone else fled, his hand clinging so tightly to his sword that it became one with him. In the same way, we are called to hold fast to the Word of God, especially when the fight gets tough. Our faith isn’t proven in comfort, but in conflict. When we feel weary, when the temptation to give up is strong, that’s when our grip on God’s promises matters most.

God has set a light inside each of us—not to be hidden, but to shine in the darkness. The battles we face are not meant to destroy us, but to reveal God’s strength through us. Our joy, our hope, and our perseverance become a testimony to those around us, especially when circumstances are hard. Sometimes, we hold on to God’s Word, and sometimes, when we’re too weak, His Word holds on to us.

There are seasons when dreams seem delayed, when promises feel distant, and when the temptation to quit is overwhelming. But God is faithful. Whether you’re holding on for a prodigal child, a broken marriage, or even your own life, don’t give up. The best is yet to come. Let’s be a people who fight the good fight of faith, who build and battle, who pray and persevere, and who never stop shining the light of Christ in our city and beyond.

Key Takeaways

1. Stand When Others Retreat When the world and even fellow believers retreat in the face of adversity, God calls us to stand our ground. True faith is not measured by how we act when things are easy, but by our willingness to remain steadfast when everyone else walks away. Our stand becomes a beacon of hope and conviction for others who are watching, wondering if faith can endure the storm. [09:48]
2. Tighten Your Grip in the Battle As the fight intensifies, it’s not time to loosen our hold but to tighten our grip on God’s Word. The sword of the Spirit is our lifeline, and every time we open the Scriptures, we are not just reading words—we are holding on to God Himself. In seasons of exhaustion and doubt, the discipline of returning to the Word daily is what gives us the strength to persevere. [16:40]
3. Faith Shines Brightest in Darkness God never promised a life free from trials, but He did promise to be with us in the midst of them. Our light shines brightest when circumstances are darkest, and it’s in those moments that our witness is most powerful. The world needs to see believers who radiate joy and hope, not because life is perfect, but because God is present. [18:08]
4. Sometimes God Holds On to You There are moments when our strength fails and we feel like letting go of the call, the dream, or even our faith. In those times, God’s grip on us is stronger than our grip on Him. His faithfulness sustains us when we are at our weakest, ensuring that His purpose will prevail even when we feel like giving up. [21:08]
5. Don’t Give Up—The Promise Awaits Long seasons of waiting can tempt us to abandon the dreams and promises God has placed in our hearts. Whether you’re believing for a child, a restored relationship, or breakthrough in your life, keep holding on. The enemy wants you to quit just before the breakthrough, but God’s victory is for those who refuse to let go, even when hope seems lost. [25:22]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:00] - Early Days and Pastoral Influence
[01:45] - The Power of Investment and Salvation
[02:21] - Stepping Into Ministry
[03:31] - Honoring Spiritual Mentors
[04:32] - Turning to 2 Samuel 23
[05:27] - Eleazar’s Stand in Battle
[06:16] - The Fighter Within
[07:32] - The School Bus Fight Story
[09:13] - Standing When Others Retreat
[11:18] - Called to Shine Bright
[13:10] - Joy in the Battle
[15:53] - Tightening Your Grip on the Word
[17:15] - Faith Proven in Conflict
[20:46] - When You Want to Give Up
[22:16] - The Long Wait for God’s Promise
[25:22] - Holding On Through Disappointment
[27:24] - Staying in the Fight
[28:52] - The Best is Yet to Come
[29:24] - Juliana Koepke’s Survival Story
[31:34] - Choosing to Fight or Give Up
[32:47] - Stirring Faith and Prayer
[34:15] - Invitation to Salvation

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

2 Samuel 23:9-10 (ESV) — > And next to him among the three mighty men was Eleazar the son of Dodo, son of Ahohi. He was with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle, and the men of Israel withdrew. He rose and struck down the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clung to the sword. And the Lord brought about a great victory that day, and the men returned after him only to strip the slain.

Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV) — > “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

1 Timothy 6:12 (ESV) — > Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Observation Questions

In 2 Samuel 23:9-10, what did Eleazar do when everyone else retreated from the battle? What was unique about how he held his sword?
According to Matthew 5:14-16, what does Jesus say about our role as “the light of the world”?
In the sermon, what personal story did the pastor share about someone “standing in the gap” for him, and how did it impact his life? [[01:59]]
What does 1 Timothy 6:12 say about the “good fight of faith,” and what are believers encouraged to take hold of?

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Eleazar’s hand “clung to the sword” is emphasized in the story? What might this symbolize for us today?
The pastor said, “Our faith isn’t proven in comfort, but in conflict.” What does this mean for how we view hard times in our lives? [[17:15]]
How does letting your light shine in dark circumstances serve as a testimony to others, according to both the sermon and Matthew 5? [[18:27]]
The sermon mentioned that sometimes “God’s grip on us is stronger than our grip on Him.” What does this reveal about God’s faithfulness when we feel weak or want to give up? [[21:08]]

Application Questions

The pastor shared about a time when someone invested in his future and it changed his life. Is there someone in your life you feel called to “stand in the gap” for right now? What is one practical way you could do that this week? [[01:59]]
When have you felt like everyone else was retreating or giving up, but you knew God was calling you to stand your ground? What helped you stay faithful in that moment? [[09:48]]
Are there areas in your life where you feel tempted to loosen your grip on God’s Word or promises? What is one step you can take to “tighten your grip” this week—maybe through reading, memorizing, or praying Scripture? [[16:40]]
The sermon talked about “shining bright” even when life is hard. Can you think of a recent situation where you had the opportunity to let your faith shine in a difficult circumstance? How did you respond, and what would you do differently next time? [[18:27]]
The pastor said, “Sometimes you hold on to God’s Word, and sometimes God holds on to you.” Have you experienced a season where you felt too weak to hold on? How did you see God’s faithfulness during that time? [[21:08]]
Is there a dream, promise, or relationship you’ve been holding on to for a long time, but you’re tempted to give up? What encouragement from the sermon can help you keep going? [[25:22]]
The message ended with a call to “never stop shining the light of Christ in our city and beyond.” What is one way you can intentionally shine your light in your workplace, neighborhood, or family this week? [[11:18]]

Sermon Clips

My question to you this morning is this. Will you be standing when everybody else goes? When the world retreats from around you, are you willing to say, I will stand and fight? I will be the one that when culture says that it's wrong and you shouldn't do it and this, that and the other, that I stand on the word of God. I will be the one to stand up and fight because there's too many of the church that has retreated. [00:09:52] (31 seconds) #StandAndFight

When others retreat, you've got to stand your ground. Because I feel like we're living in a generation that is just waiting for a reason to give up. They're just looking for a reason to throw in the towel. We're looking for an easy exit. We allow the spirit of offense to come over us. Something that tells us nothing is ever going to change. The church isn't working. What they're preaching isn't the answer. And so we become full of all these excuses. And we're just looking for a reason to throw in the towel and quit and give up. [00:10:49] (39 seconds) #NoEasyExit

When the battle gets hard, you gotta tighten your grip. I've heard Pastor Derek preach this for years, but he tells us we gotta get in our word. You wanna know why he's telling you you gotta get in your word? Because when you read this word, you're tightening your grip. [00:16:01] (18 seconds) #TightenYourGrip

So when you're holding on to the word, guess who you're holding on to? You're holding on to God. So every time that you open this book, you're tightening your grip because you woke up this morning and you didn't feel like getting out of the bed, but you opened up your Bible anyway and you got a word that gave you the strength to hold on for another day. [00:16:34] (18 seconds) #WordHoldsYouUp

Because when you feel weak, God will hold on to you. Ephesians says, when you've done all else to stand, stand. And when you're tired and you're weak, just stand. Let God's grace and mercy and goodness strengthen you. Because sometimes you hold on to the word and sometimes the word holds on to you. [00:21:40] (29 seconds) #StayCommittedInFaith

Maybe it's a child that's away from the Lord and they've run for so long and maybe they're addicted to drugs and addicted to alcohol. And can I tell you, keep holding on to the promise this morning. Keep fighting. Come on, don't stop waking up in the morning and every morning bombarding heaven for that son, for that daughter and praying for them and believing that God's gonna bring them back to the house and God's gonna restore that relationship. Don't give up. Don't stop fighting. Don't stop praying. Don't stop believing. [00:25:43] (33 seconds) #BuildAndBattle

Over that marriage, God brought you together and now division has come in that household and you don't even sleep in the same bedroom anymore and you don't even look at each other in the eyes and the only way that you can even talk to one another is to text one another and there's so much separation there. Come on, you've gotta hold on that God is gonna work it out, that he's fighting your battles. You gotta stay committed in that marriage. Stay committed in that relationship. [00:26:16] (32 seconds) #FightDontGiveUp

Maybe you're in this place and you felt like just ending it all because the fight's just over. Maybe it's just too hard. Maybe you're numbing the pain with, you know, drugs or alcohol or pills and you're like, I just, I can't do this anymore. I can't fight anymore. It's time to re-up this morning. Come on, if there's somebody who's struggling with suicide, no, no, no, no, no. We're fighting the fight today. No, I'm staying in the fight. I'm staying in this thing. I'm not giving up. I'm not quitting. I'm not throwing in the towel. You don't win today, Satan. [00:26:55] (38 seconds)

The book of Nehemiah says that they had tools in one hand and that they had a sword in the other hand. And the book of Nehemiah says that they would build they were on the lookout for the enemy. Come on, we are gonna build a church. God's not done with this church. There's people still to be reached in this city. So God, I'm gonna take my tool and my gift and my calling and my purpose, and I'm gonna build the church. And while I'm building the church, I got my sword in the other hand and I'm ready to fight when the enemy comes at us. [00:28:02] (37 seconds)

But it all went back to a moment where she was sitting and she said, do I live or do I die? Do I fight or do I give up? And some of you this morning came to church and you're sitting in the wreckage of your life and you're looking around and it looks like a mess and you're trying to decide do I fight or do I give up? I'm here to tell somebody this morning, don't stop. Don't quit. Don't give up. Keep holding on. Because God's got a promise for you. He's got a plan for you. And He's got the victory for you. If you don't give up on what He's doing. [00:31:26] (42 seconds)

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