Do you ever feel like throwing in the towel? Maybe the pressure at work is too much; maybe the problems in your marriage seem overwhelming; or perhaps the goal you have strived for years to attain remains just beyond your reach, no matter how hard you try. At what point is it okay to quit trying for a good thing? Norman Vincent Peale, a pastor, author, and speaker who was known for his wisdom, had some fitting advice. He used to say, “It’s always too soon to quit.”
Always too soon? A similar thought is attributed to Ross Perot: “Most people give up just when they’re about to achieve success. They quit on the one-yard line. They give up at the last minute of the game, one foot away from a winning touchdown.”
The Bible seems to agree on this subject. In the book of Galatians, Paul encouraged us, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9)
The “proper time” sometimes takes a little longer to arrive than we like. And sometimes it feels like the proper time will never arrive. This is when we need to engage our faith. It’s when we need to determine to dig in and stick around a little longer. It’s never a good time to quit.
B.C. Forbes said, “History has demonstrated that the most notable winners usually encountered heartbreaking obstacles before they triumphed. They won because they refused to become discouraged by their defeats.”
The Christian life consists of overcoming one defeat, one challenge after another. That’s because we’re in a spiritual battle, and we confront the enemy every single day. We may lose a little ground from time to time, but we will not lose the war. We have been promised victory if we do not give up. It’s always too soon to quit.
In faith,
Roy
