Live out to the fullest this wonderful life
Today, do you feel like giving up? Are you in the midst of a setback? Or have you been knocked down by difficult times?
However, you will not quit, for you can overcome the challenges that life throws your way and emerge from them victoriously. Moments of challenge will be transformed into moments of victory. Problems will be turned into possibilities. And in the face of opposition, you can win.
“But how?” you may ask. There is a formula… and it begins with one 12 letter word: It’s P-e-r-se-v-e-r-a-n-c-e!
A dear friend of mine once said to me, “In my lifetime, I have learned that if you have perseverance…you cannot lose.”
And I agree. Throughout life, we all must have steadfast and unwavering perseverance.
One evening, I recall how my family and I were all sitting on the sofa in the family room watching a baseball game on television. The first player was up to bat; he walked up to the mound, and got into position to hit the ball. We saw the pitcher throw a fastball. And the player swung. But instead of hitting the ball, the force of his missed swing caused him to stumble and fall to the ground. Quickly, the batter stood up and got into position again. This time, when the pitcher threw the next ball, the batter determinately hit it far out into the outfield. When I watched the rest of the inning, I couldn’t help but think: The baseball player may have been ‘down for a short time,’ yet, he was ‘not out!’
Similarly, you might be ‘down for a short time,’ yet like the batter, you are ‘not out!’ So, with perseverance, get back up and make an effort again.
It’s been said, “In trying times, don’t quit trying.” Setbacks are usually transition periods. Thus, if you face a stumbling block, look past the obstacle, and plan future strategies on how you will successfully prevail over it. A while ago, a reader wrote and told how she had studied and sacrificed for years to complete her accreditation in the health industry. When it came time for her to take the final test for her license, she missed passing by just two points. Rather than giving up, she put aside all anxious thoughts, continued learning, and with perseverance, she scheduled herself to take the test for a second time. Two months later, she passed the exam and was officially approved. Her story reminded me firsthand of the incredible value of perseverance. So, if it seems like all is lost, do as this reader did… stay with it, and try another time!
Keep your dreams alive and well. Entertain all possibilities. Set big goals. Go after your dreams. And never use the words, “I quit.” Instead, say to yourself, “I’m not going to give up,” “I’ve come too far to stop now,” “An unexpected opportunity will arise,” and “It will all come together for me soon.” Don’t hold back or lose the hopes and expectations for the future. Live out to the fullest this wonderful life that God has given to you.
I have heard coaches say that, “Persistence breaks down resistance.” Many people might tell you, “No,” “Not now,” or “It won’t happen.” Contrarily, no matter how many times you hear the word, ‘no,’ remember, you only need one, ‘yes,’ for a dream to become a reality. And overnight, things can take off and you will be successfully launched forward.
Years back, I recall how my then nine-yearold daughter was going to audition for a part in her school’s upcoming musical. Explaining to her about the audition process, I reminded her that the most important thing is doing her best,
and if she doesn’t get a part this year, she can audition again next year.
Giving her an example from my own life, with a glistening smile, I uttered, “It took me seven years to win Miss Connecticut U.S.A.”
Her eyebrows raised and a look of astonishment came over my daughter’s face. “Seven actual years, Mom?” asked my daughter.
“Yes,” I chuckled, “actual years.” Wide-eyed she exclaimed, “Holy cow!” and “You are persistent!”
Above my desk in my office is a poem by Edgar A. Guest that has always inspired me. Perhaps you have read it, but it bears repeating:
“When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill.
When the funds are low and the debts are high, And you want to smile, but you have to sigh.
When care is pressing you down a bit, Rest, if you must, but don’t quit!”
Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don’t give up, though the pace seems slow—
You may succeed with another blow.
Often the goal is nearer than
It seems to a faint and faltering man,
Often the struggler has given up
When he might have captured the victor’s cup,
And he learned too late, when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.
Success is failure turned inside out—
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems afar;
And the last two lines of the poem states:
“So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit-It’s when things seem worst that you must not quit.”
You have one life, so try to accomplish all the extraordinary things you would like to do.
And if you seem to be surrounded by impossibilities, remember, nothing is impossible for God. One touch of His mighty hand can bring your heart’s desires to pass. It’s time to believe, it is time to persevere, it’s time to expect God’s blessings, and you’ll defy the odds and succeed.
In the 1800s, British preacher, Charles Spurgeon said, “By perseverance, the snail reached the ark.” And with perseverance, you will win, too!