The list of success stories that occurred when people were at the end of their hope is endless. The world has been changed by people who just didn’t know how to give up. And most of them had a string of failures that preceded their success! Anytime I hear the phrase “over night success,” I know this is usually someone who spent years becoming that “overnight success.” I know this is usually someone who would not quit! My good friend and fellow minister, Jimmie Bratcher talks about the gift of “showing up!” Sometimes that’s all we know to do, but there is virtue in the fact that we keep showing up. Sometimes, facing adversity is like walking in a freezing wind on a winter’s day. You just lean forward and try to walk. When facing adversity, James 5:11 says, “Indeed we count them blessed who endure.” You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord — that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful. In one of the worst hardship stories in the Bible, we see that God’s plan for Job was always a better life. No matter what you are facing, God has a good ending prepared for you! The more clearly you see that end in your heart, the greater your capacity to endure.
Do whatever it takes to keep you goal alive in your heart. The mark of a winner is not that he never falls or fails. He or she just keeps getting up. Maybe all you can do today is show up. But that¹s better than any other option. The person who keeps showing up, eventually shows up at the right place, at the right time.
The words of John Osteen, the founder of Lakewood church, now pastored by Joel Osteen, have encouraged me so many times. John was a pioneer in so many ways. But his early days were filled with constant challenge and opposition. According to Bill Deerman, this super-church never had more than 200 people for over twenty years. At the time of his death more than 10,000 people per week were attending Lakewood church and tens of thousands were watching his services on television. I once heard John say that the secret to his success was that he kept preaching good news until he found the people who wanted it!
Don’t quit! Tomorrow you may become the next “overnight success!” Read Entire Article
