Too Soon to Quit

Steve May writes devotionals on Monday and this was his Monday writing.  I especially was touched but more so because of the message yesterday that I shared with you.  Enjoy it and be encouraged, as I.

Norman Vincent Peale used to say, "It's always too soon to quit."

This reminds me of a quote 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."

On this subject, Paul encouraged us, "Let us not become weary in doing well, 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 we need to engage 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 the triumphed. They won because they refused to become discouraged by their defeats."

The Christian life -- and more specifically, the ministry -- consists of overcoming one defeat after another.  That's because we're in a spiritual battle and everyday we confront the enemy.  We may lose a little ground from time to time, but we will not lose the war.  We have been promised victory -- a harvest of righteousness -- if we do not give up.  It's always too soon to quit.

Failure is our teacher, not our under-taker.  Failure is delay, not defeat.  It's a temporary detour, not a dead-end street.  -- William Ward

It is never too late to be what you might have been.  -- George Eliot

Success seems to be largely a matter of hanging on after others have let go. -- William Feather

Mistakes are easy, mistakes are inevitable, but there is no mistake so great as the mistake of not going on. -- William Blake