When You Feel Like Giving Up

There was a time when I received one of the most serendipitous gifts on my birthday. It’s a customized notebook from my sister where one of my own quotes had been inscribed on the cover. This is the quote that’s complete with an attribution to my name:

“Don’t give up now. For all you know, your dreams are just about to come true!” - Jocelyn Soriano

It was a very timely message that I needed to read. And I couldn’t help but be struck with the awesomeness of it all. It was something I had written long ago, and it came back to me right when I needed to remember it most.

Have you ever experienced something like that? Something like a happy coincidence just when you thought you’ve given up all hope? What do you do when you feel like giving up?

Mother Angelica had this very amazing quote. She said, “I am not afraid to fail, I am scared to death of dying and having the Lord say to me. 'Angelica, this is what you might have done had you trust me more'.”

Maybe one of the reasons I lose hope is because of that feeling of failure. After feeling that I have already tried everything, I still can’t seem to make any progress in what I do. No matter how hard I work, I remain stuck.

It’s one of the worst feelings. To think that everything you do seems to be in vain. Even the work you’ve accomplished throughout the years seem to lose their meaning.

Mother Angelica, however reminds me that it isn’t that kind of failure I must fear. There is a greater failure, and that is failing to trust in God more. If I give up now, I wouldn’t know what God could have done more through me.

When you feel like giving up, try to pause for a while and present everything to God. Tell Him how you feel. Cry to Him if you need to. If He could lay down His life for you, would He not understand your tears?

Remember the crucifixion of Jesus. Did it not look like a big failure then?

And we all know what happens after that. After Jesus kept trusting the Father. And after He never gave up.

“But I said, ‘I have laboured in vain.
I have spent my strength in vain for nothing;
yet surely the justice due to me is with the LORD,
and my reward with my God.’”
- Isaiah 49:4, WEBBE

Poem

When I Can’t Find the Way

Being lost.
Having walked so long
Yet never finding what you’re
Supposed to be looking for.
Knocking on doors
But none of them leading anywhere
Or worse
Knocking on doors
That are locked
And never finding the key
Trapped.
Trying again and again
And failing.
Hoping over and over
Only to be disappointed.
Where is my escape?
Wanting to run
But cannot even find the way.
Wanting to see the light
Yet all I see is darkness.
Can you even see the darkness?
Where is hope then in such a place?
When I have tried with all my very best
And with all the strength I have in me,
There is only one way out that’s left
And only God’s fingers can point the way.
How do I see His fingers in the dark?
Can I even know He is there?
When I cannot see,
What I can do is believe –
Believe that He is there
Seeing me
Guiding me
Protecting me
I don’t need to see
I just have to trust that HE sees me
And because He sees with love
He will keep me
Under the shadow of His wings.

Recommended Podcast

Quotes on Not Giving Up

“Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.” - Dale Carnegie

“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.”-Thomas Edison

“It always seems impossible until it’s done.” - Nelson Mandela

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

“Nothing could be worse than the fear that one had given up too soon, and left one unexpended effort that might have saved the world.” - Jane Addams

“Never give up, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.”- Harriet Beecher Stowe

“The difference between success and failure is measured by how many times you can try…ONE MORE TIME.” – Rodger Halston

“Don’t get lost. Give it a try. Go find the place that you’re wishing for.” – Natsuki Takaya

“If you ever need someone to listen or to pray for you, you can write to me as a subscriber simply by replying to your ‘Welcome’ email or to your succeeding Newsletters from me. You are not alone. (Note: By writing, you give me permission to publish your letter. You may want to use an alias or a pen name. )” - Joyce