Whatever you’re going through, there’s hope

At different times in life, you may feel that the odds are stacked up against you. Perhaps, you’re facing some big obstacles. You may be constrained by your current circumstances. Or, it could seem as if time is running out to do all of the things you want to do for your future. Weary and frustrated, some days, you might think, “I’m just going to quit.’

But before you decide to throw in the towel, let me ask you, “Are you going to let someone who hurt you, a delay, a temporary challenge or past mistakes, take away your bright future?”

God wants to do something new for you. So don’t give up now. God has not forgotten about you. Whatever you’re going through, there’s hope.

In New York City, there was a taxi driver who, most often, would take his passengers to a busy, local speedway. The track was always bustling with people. Thus, the taxi driver would drop passengers off and then later pick them up again later.

In the afternoons, the taxi driver told how every time he’d pull up to park his taxi to drop off some passengers, a group of school kids would be gathered in front of the building. At that time, it was customary that when passengers got out of their taxi, they’d often toss a quarter or two to the local kids who were congregated at the entrance of the speedway. Each time the taxis drove up to the track, it was another opportunity for the kids to perhaps get a quarter.

Thinking back, the taxi driver reminisced. “There was one boy that I fondly remember. For this particular boy never stopped trying to reach for the quarters,” the taxi driver uttered.

“Some of the others kids would push him to the side in their attempt to grab that quarter from passengers getting out of their taxis. Yet, this boy never pushed back,” the taxi driver said. “In fact, the boy was quite kind and courteous to the other kids who would intentionally try to knock him down.”

Then, one afternoon, the boy’s chance arrived. “I drove up,” the driver voiced slowly, “and all the other school kids were gathered by another taxi, and they didn’t notice my vehicle.”

Continuing, he declared, “The boy saw me and came close to my taxi. His face lit up with a glad smile. The boy was utterly thrilled. However, my passenger got out of the taxi and did not toss him a quarter. Instead, the boy was shoved to the side. And he fell to the ground, as my passenger hurried past the boy.”

The sympathetic taxi driver quickly parked his taxi and scurried out to try to help the boy. But in the crowd, he was nowhere to be found. “I reached into my pocket and pulled out a twentydollar bill, for I wanted to give the boy some money for his great efforts. Yet, by the time I spotted him, he rose slowly from the ground. And after that he walked away crying with his head down in despair. Thereafter, I lost sight of the boy, and I never did see him again. He never returned to the speedway.”

Over time, the taxi driver explained how he frequently thought about that boy. With tears welling up in his eyes, he whispered, “If only the boy had persisted and waited around just a little while longer, I would have given him twenty dollars, rather than just a quarter that he was after.”

Like this story, when you face an unexpected difficulty, it’s easy to get discouraged. But when your circumstance seem so hopeless and you’re ready to walk away and quit, that is the time when things are most likely to turn around for you.

If you fall, pick yourself up, get back on your feet and try again. Don’t ever give up when situations are challenging, for your dreams may be closer than you think and are just waiting to come to fruition.

You have the potential to accomplish great things. The Bible says, “In due season, you shall reap if you faint not.” (Galatians 6:9). So do not allow your mind to waiver or permit setbacks or irritations to sidetrack you from what God has called you to do. The obstacles you encounter can be like street signs along the road that you pass as you travel down that road on your way to success.

So believe that you can overcome. Take another step. Implement a new idea. Aim higher. Think out-of-the-box. Make another call. Stumbling blocks can be springboards, advancing you onward to future opportunities.

A while ago, I received a letter from a reader. She explained that her husband lost his job, and she spent many days in a pool of tears thinking that she could not bear the weight of it all anymore. She wrote, “I would think about your words, and once I was done crying and feeling sorry for myself, I would get off my pity pot, and go on with my day.’

“I found your words so inspirational. It seemed as if you knew what our troubles were, and were speaking directly to me. I began cutting out your articles and posting them up. ‘Don’t throw in the towel,’ ‘win with endurance,’ ‘believe that you can,’ and ‘try a different course,’ ‘do another kind deed’ and ‘keep on going forward’ and ‘the mercy and grace of God are new each day,’ you’d write.”

Continuing with her letter, “So that’s what I did...every day. It kept me believing that God has a plan and if I remained hopeful, and focused on taking care of my family, my husband would eventually start working again.”

Next, she joyfully explained in her letter that her husband started a new job this past week. It is a career that was far better than his previous one, and she is thankful to God for this new opportunity.

Suddenly, swiftly, the breakthrough came. And suddenly, swiftly, your breakthrough can come, too.

I believe that some of you reading this column today are in need of a restoration. If that’s you, make the decision today to let go of all those things that are holding you back. God is working in your behalf, for soon He’s going to bring you an abundance of blessings. You’ll prevail over challenges, and you will live in peace, joy and victory each day of your life.

I believe that some of you reading this column today are in need of a restoration. If that’s you, make the decision today to let go of all those things that are holding you back. God is working in your behalf, for soon He’s going to bring you an abundance of blessings. You’ll prevail over challenges, and you will live in peace, joy and victory each day of your life.