We give up because of these: 1) We fear failure. Past hurts and mistakes haunt us, and we think it’s better not to try again than risk failing. Don’t spend your life digging up bones! We all have things in our past we would rather forget. Put them behind you. Paul writes, ‘Forgetting those things which are behind…[reach] forward to those things which are ahead’ (Philippians 3:13 NKJV). 2) We worry what people will say. ‘Fear of human opinion disables’ (Proverbs 29:25 MSG). How you respond to criticism is one of the most important decisions you will ever make. There will always be people who won’t like or understand you. Get over it! 3) We listen to the wrong voices. Satan is the Father of Lies, and he will do everything he can to discourage you. Paul says, ‘Demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God,…take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ’ (2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV). When a thought comes, examine it. If it’s from God, receive it; if it’s from Satan, ‘demolish’ it. 4) We lose focus. As believers, we’re to walk by faith, not by sight (see 2 Corinthians 5:7). That means making every decision based on what God says and not what you see with your natural eyes. 5) We lose touch with other believers. When the apostles got out of jail, they went back to ‘their own company’ (Acts 4:23 KJV). To stay strong, you need fellowship with other Christians. Too many people give up on the verge of success; don’t be one of them. There is only one degree of difference between hot water and steam – so keep going, and don’t even think of giving up!
