In slide-rule competition in 1960, I was ready to quit because my practice scores didn’t show much improvement.
My teacher said, “Do you think you’re getting worse?”
“Of course not.” I’d never heard a more ridiculous question.
“Then stay at it,” he said, “because you have to be getting better.”
With that advice, I learned not to quit. I’ve known poor writers who succeeded because they refused to quit. I’ve also known great writers who failed because they quit.
When we’re working to fulfill God’s purpose, failure is never final. You’re may not see the progress, but it’s there. It will all work together for good.
Never tire of doing good, for a harvest of blessing is certain if you never give up on God.
— Galatians 6:9
— Galatians 6:9
Ten Thoughts to Ponder
- If I can be certain of God’s purpose, I can find pleasure in the pain necessary to reach his valuable goal.
- Achievement comes from finding pleasure in the process.
- Frequent reminders make forgetting impossible.
- With God’s help, I can do more than try.
- Transparency allows God’s light to shine through me.
- Grooves are good, unless they become ruts.
- Procrastination is my enemy, because just a little progress today will benefit me for the rest of my life.
- Progress is knowing what to do next—and doing it.
- The tough part of submitting to God is having to surrender my desires.
- Knowing our thoughts and desires, God always hears our prayers, but he doesn’t always choose to listen.
Questions for Further Thought
- What must we do to overcome a desire to quit?
- Under what conditions should we quit?
