God throws in the towel

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The expression "throwing in the towel" comes from boxing.  When boxers endure an awful beating at the hands of their opponents, coaches throw a towel into the ring and forfeit the match.  Oftentimes, the losing boxer becomes quite upset at the coach for throwing in the towel.  However, the coach is in a better position to observe the physical damage the boxer is suffering and is also not as emotionally invested in the fight as the boxer.  Every so often, we might hear someone say he feels like "throwing in the towel" and we know that means the person feels like giving up.  However, if we are true to the origins of the expression, we know that it is not the boxer who throws in the towel but the coach.

I have determined that there are times in our walk where God does throw in the towel.  This may seem contrary to the idea that God's strength can help us endure all things, but there are times when God says, "This child's had enough" or "This child has had too much."  While we may jump to argue against this theory, consider the arenas in which people fight today.  My friend recently lost his job and is currently employed only part time.  He is suffering through the pains of unemployment now, but recognizes that he was once dismissive and prideful about his work and thought that the job was beneath him.  Battling against the sin of pride, God saw he was taking a beating and threw in the towel.  Sure, he lost his job but he was humbled and his heart was rightly adjusted.  He lost a job, but he did not lose his communion with the Holy Spirit.  I spoke with another friend who ended a relationship because of some private struggles regarding obedience to God (do not let your imagination wander - it was a matter of the heart, not the flesh).  God removed the relationship from this man's life so he would not lose the fight against hardheartedness and disobedience.  The examples can go on and on.

Like the boxers who lose the match, Christians often become angry with God (their "coach").  They feel that God has forsaken them, punished them and abandoned them to encounter a very difficult consequence.  The problem is that humans do not see the spiritual consequences of not throwing in the towel, just like boxers do not see the possible physical outcome of remaining in the fight.  God is not giving up on us, but protecting us from the problems that are ahead.  Boxers ought to trust their coaches and Christians ought to trust God.  Does He have the best for us or does He not?

Next time we feel like throwing in the towel, we ought to remember that it is not ours to throw.  For those who follow Christ, our towels are in the hands of God.  Ask Him for rescue or ask Him for strength.  Do not tell Him what to do with your towel.  True story.