Thomas Edison said, "Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time."1

It's been my experience that most people aren't truly happy until they've had many reasons to be sad. I believe this is because it takes all of those bad days and hardships to teach us how to truly appreciate what we have. It builds our resilience."2

A person is not a failure because she tried some things that did not work out. She fails only when she stops trying.

If we simply ask God, He will deliver us from the pain of our past mistakes and create in us a steadfast spirit. But while we do not have to do anything to receive God's deliverance, we can miss out on blessings if we run away from our problems without letting God bring us through them.

I don't think of all the misery, but of the beauty that still remains. Anne Frank

Galatians 6:9 the Apostle Paul simply encourages us to keep on keeping on! Don't be a quitter! Don't have that old "give-up" spirit. God is looking for people who will go all the way through with Him.

It's easy to quit; it takes faith to go through.

Trust in Him If you are going through a difficult time right now, don't be discouraged and run away. Trust God to be with you, and He will give you the grace and the wisdom to get through it.

A person who refuses to give up will always succeed, eventually. Henry Ford failed and went broke five times before he succeeded. NBA superstar Michael Jordan was once cut from his high school basketball team. After his first audition, screen legend Fred Astaire received the following assessment from an MGM executive: "Can't act. Slightly bald. Can dance a little.

I want you to know there is always a way. It may not be easy; it may not be convenient; it may not come quickly. You may have to go over, under, around, or through, but if you will simply refuse to give up, you will find a way. I

Even when things are coming against me and things aren't working out the way I'd like, I still want to display the character of Jesus Christ.

Determination keeps us going when the going gets tough.