When thinking about “throwing in the towel” — forget it . . . you don’t have one to throw . . .

A common idiom saying, “I’m quitting” is “Throwing in the towel”  . . .

I’m no longer going to fight in this arena, so I’m throwing my towel into the ring to signal, “I’m out of here” . . . but there is more to it than that. More than is commonly understood in the idiom’s generalised use. In fact, there is a simple problem, but first background to the idiom.

Definition background: “to throw in the towel and throw in the sponge; or toss in the sponge” comes from boxing, this action taken by the boxer's trainer to stop the fight. The trainer signals their fighter is withdrawing from the fight contest.

A simple problem of understanding – the trainer has the towel, not the fighter!

You cannot toss in what you do not have, but you can remember to trust the trainer . . . now, that gets me into ruminating on some words from the apostle Paul; words to Christians in the past who also “struggled with life in the ring” . . .  reminding them God is with them as their “trainer” . . .

“The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” – 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NLT)

In feeling the challenge, pressure and trusting the trainer – don’t “bite the bullet” chew on the text . . .

• Knowing that the temptations and pressures in my life are no different from what others experience doesn’t mean it’s easy, just its normative

• The trainer is faithful 

• The trainer will not allow the temptations and pressures to be more than one can stand, he is committed to one’s success, not their mere survival

•  “Stand” is not a synonym for survive – it’s a synonym for endure

•  When you are struggling at energy’s end tempted, the trainer will show you a way out so that you can endure 

Remember the trainer does not have your “dying in the ring in mind” – he does have . . .

•  A towel on his shoulder

• A plan in his heart for your future

• The capacity to enable our fights, fears, failures to serve as fuel to form our future

• Ways of escape, operative for our endurance; not one’s mere survival

 Don’t look for the towel, trust the trainer