So let me ask you a question today what are you tempted to give up on
what are you tempted to walk away from and so many of God's people oftentimes
they want to give up and quit and I'm saying do you don't give up and quit
we make the choice we make the choice of how we live through the difficult times in life
I would plead with you don't walk away don't quit don't give up don't throw in the towel as
people say but just tell the Lord Lord I'm going to trust you to see me through this
I don't know how but I'm going to trust you because you said
you will never leave me nor forsake me and God I believe you always tell the truth everybody in
your life will have a turn back moment no matter who you are you're going to have such a period
in your life where it seems like it's not working you're going to have doubts you're going to have a
lot of trials and tribulations and challenges and everybody has what's called the turn back moment
you always have a moment in your life where the direction you're going you will have to
make a decision to keep going or you turn back the sad thing is the average person turns back
but think about this if you're going somewhere and you turn back you could never get that
and I had really dark moments man where I thought I was going I just didn't think I was going to
make it I mean where I am today I didn't see it clearly at all I had a lot of turn back moments
so what kept me from going was what kept me going was I made turning back
giving up never an option because you see as a follower of Jesus Christ giving up is not who we
are surrendering is not who we are throwing in the towel as we say that's not who we are and so when
I think about giving up that just it doesn't fit who we are and if you're in the process right now
giving up on your marriage giving up on your job giving up on your children giving up on your
financial situation whatever the situation may be before you give up you stop and ask yourself the
question does this fit who I am as a follower of Jesus listen it's all about keeping on keeping on
and that is to have the courage to keep on keeping on you don't have to give up and quit it's going
to be days where you're like nah I'm out I need I need a time out from life or maybe I just need
to give up trying what are we going to do in these difficult days are we just going to hope for the
best hope things just kind of improve are we going to be the circumstantial people who are just like
well if my circumstances improve then I won't give up but what if your circumstances don't improve
how are you going to put one foot in front of the other and keep moving and keep going
because here's what I know the proof that you are still sucking oxygen on planet earth
is the evidence that all the evidence I need that means God this great wonderful amazing
heavenly father still has grand and great plans for your life you wouldn't believe the thoughts
and purposes and intentions that God has for your life I know that whatever I'm facing
is tough as it is my God because he's always truthfully is going to turn it for my good
there are some things I cannot figure out how God turns for good but he does he listen he never said
understand me he said trust me just trust me and that is the key and you know what we want
to feel like and I don't think it's wrong you just want to feel like you're doing good in life
you just want to feel like you're on it you're keeping a good pace you're on a good path you're
making a difference and every once in a while you want to know that you're passing a few people
you know I don't even know what that means passing if you but you just want to feel like
you know I'm kind of rounding the corner here and I'm kind of on my way making a difference and then
what happens life life I've quoted Mike Tyson and this one quote so many times I quoted it yesterday
we were doing an interview with some friends and I said Mike Tyson always said and he meant this
about his fighting but I love this statement he's like hey everyone's like Mike what are you going to do
you know so-and-so is going to fight you are you worried he's like everybody's got a plan
these dudes can plan but the plan's out the window when they get punched in the face sounds like life
right everybody's got big plans and all of a sudden we got punched by life
this is gonna happen and all of a sudden you're like well that big old punch in the face wasn't in
the plan what do I do now and all of a sudden it's like well I think maybe all is lost and I'll just
go ahead and give up now interesting when going to scripture and considering this journey of life
there's this little itty bitty description we've talked about it before it's one of my favorite
man makes big plans the Lord directs people's steps but if I could just get you to think
about the next step maybe you'll take it and keep going what's your next step what's your next step
what's your next step now plans will change so how will you please hear me
take the next step I always like to say that the secret to success is doing a lot of little things
consistently over a long period of time I've learned to show up every single day the moment
you realize the next step isn't going to kill you and that next step is the first step to evolving
changing growing and learning and becoming literally the best version of yourself
that's the most beautiful thing it's not going to kill you and putting yourself in the game
you're giving yourself an opportunity to achieve something that everybody else said was impossible
oftentimes people give up right before victory is about to break loose right before opportunity
stares them in the face they're willing to give up right before things can change they want to
give up that's why it's dangerous to ever give up because when we give up in a situation we're
giving up on God he says I'll never leave you nor forsake you as long as you and I are walking in
his will and his way it doesn't make any difference how tough it gets if we don't
give up we're going to be rewarded no matter what you're going through what you're facing you have
the strength of God within you because you have the Holy Spirit living inside of you that's
what you and I should start every day with the awareness that God is with us today and that we
have the strength of God to face anything and everything and anybody and everybody
no matter what the situation is because listen it isn't our strength it's his strength if they
go on my strength or your strength some days we wouldn't get up but it's the strength of the Lord
that is it's watch this it's the divine energy of God it's the power of almighty God within us
and that doesn't mean you won't have difficult situations and circumstances but he will enable us
to live through it no matter what so when people say well you know if you just understood what I
was going through well maybe I do maybe I don't I know somebody who does and that's God and God
understood whatever you're going through before you ever started going through it and listen he's
ready and willing to equip you so that you won't give up right before the best happens in your
life so I'm saying to you because God is saying to you whatever you are facing in life at this moment
no matter how difficult it is how tough it is how discouraging it is and all the reasons
and the evidence you have for walking away and all the all the proof that you have that things
are wrong remember there is a God in heaven and if you're saved he's living within you and that God
will take you through whatever you're facing in life no matter what