When You Feel Like Giving Up

Sharon JaynesDreams of a Woman, General Inspiration, Living Fully 128 Comments

Do you ever have days when you just want to give up? Days when you just want to throw up your hands and say, “Forget this!”

If so, you’re not alone. I’ve said it too. I’ve felt it too.

[tweetherder]The key to success in any endeavor is not give in to the human tendency to give up.[/tweetherder]

William James said, “Most people never run far enough on their first wind to find out they’ve got a second. Give your dreams all you’ve got and you’ll be amazed at the energy that comes out of you.”

Many years ago, before I had my first book published, someone told me that the difference between a published author and an unpublished author is that the published author didn’t give up on her dream. I’ve found that to be true.

Paul encouraged the Philippians, “Brethren, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13,14). The NASB says, “reaching forward to what lies ahead.” Paul compared his Christian life to a race and in this verse he tells us to keep our eye on the goal. Press on! Don’t give up!

Here are some fun facts to remember when you feel like quitting. They’re not Biblical or even spiritual, but they are poignant reminders.

After Fred Astaire’s first screen test in 1933, the director noted, “Can’t act! Slightly bald.  Can dance a little.”

Louisa May Alcott, author of Little Women, was encouraged to find work as a servant or a seamstress.

Beethoven’s violin teacher once told him his was a “hopeless composer.”

Walt Disney was fired by a newspaper editor for lack of ideas.

Thomas Edison’s teacher said he was too stupid to learn anything.

Albert Einstein didn’t speak until he was four years old and didn’t read until he was seven.  His teachers described him as mentally slow.

Isaac Newton did poorly in grade school.

Henry Ford failed and went bankrupt five times before he finally succeeded.

Babe Ruth, when he retired from baseball, set the home run record (714), but he also held the record for the most strikeouts (1,330).

Winston Churchill failed sixth grade.

One basketball player missed 9,000 shots in his career.  He lost more than 300 games.  Twenty-six times he was trusted to take the game’s winning shot and missed.  His name is Michael Jordan.  He said, “I’ve failed over and over again in my life. And that’s why I succeed.”

There have been many days when I’ve wanted to quit. Lugging suitcases through an airport by myself, carting boxes of books from place to place, sleeping in strange beds, eating strange foods, missing my husband, fighting spiritual battles for the souls of the ones I’m speaking to, traveling across the country alone, endless hours at the computer alone,  etc.

Being in ministry is an honor, but it is not glamorous! Many days I wonder, is all this doing anyone any good? That’s when God reminds me of the piano story.

Once there was a little nine-year-old boy who wanted to give up. He desperately wanted to stop taking piano lessons. In hopes of encouraging her son to continue, his mother took him to hear the great concert pianist Ignacy Jan Paderewski.

Before the concert began, the boy slipped away from his mother and made his way to the grand Steinway positioned on the stage under the stoplight. He sat down on the piano bench, placed his chubby hands on the keys, and began to bang out the most annoying song known to humankind – “Chopsticks.”

The indignant crowd began to yell for someone to get the boy off the stage. Behind the curtain, Paderewski heard the commotion. He grabbed his coat, ran out on stage, and reached his arms around the boy to play a beautiful melody to enhance the boy’s “Chopsticks.”

All the while he whispered in the boy’s ear, “Don’t quit. Keep on playing. Don’t stop. Don’t quit. Never give up.”

There may be many days when your life seems just about as melodious as chopsticks. It is on those days when I want you to imagine your Heavenly Father placing His loving arms around you and playing a beautiful melody around you simple efforts.

All the while He’s whispering, “Don’t quit, don’t stop, never give up.”

If you’re willing to “press on” with Paul and with me, leave a comment that says, “With God’s help, I’m pressing on today!”

Want More?

I'm not good enough cover (274 x 425) smallSometimes what holds us back and makes us feel like quitting is the feeling that we aren’t good enough, smart enough, spiritual enough…just plain not enough. If this is something that you struggle with, it is time to stop believing the lies and starting believing the truth. If you know Jesus, you are empowered by the Holy Spirit with a whole passel of promises that are yours for the taking. I’m Not Good Enough…and Other Lies Women Tell Themselves, has helped thousands of women to believe the truth about their identity in Christ. I can help you too!

 

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Comments 128

  1. There have been many times that I wanted to give up lately but then I hear little gentle reminders whispering in the wind “You are special, You are worth it” Then I thank The Lord and ask Him to lead the way.
    I have a book I’m working on and have almost given up a few times. I’ve gone to The Lord in prayer about it and have pressed forward. Now I’m just waiting for the financing to go forth with it. I’ve had some people discourage me but something inside me tells me to keep on going but be patient at the same time.
    With God as my “push” I know I can get through it all.

  2. Thank you so very much for the words above. I had a doctor’s appointment today and got all bad news! I will keep trying, thanks to you!

  3. “With God’s help, I’m pressing on today!”
    I am a single mom in South Africa striving to bring up 2 Godly boys and many days i am sicouraged but thank you for this!!! it has spoken to my core

  4. like Dorothy I am going to press on down that yellow brick road in life even if means without family or friends, just me and Jesus walking by my side! May you all have a great day and keep pressing on!

  5. With God’s help I’m pressing on today. God is talking to me this a.m. I recently had to change positions from whatvive been doing for last 7 years. It wasn’t a choice but .force of sorts. I woke this a.m feeling I couldn go on…my body won’t take working with these little behavioral physically acting out little preschool artistic students. I have old back injury from Working with adults severely impaired. It’s acting up now with this new position. Is it quitting when it’s hurting you? Do you keep going? I need some help. GIG and you touched in this and made me start looking at whole pic and talking ti our Lord about it this a.m thank u

  6. Thank you, what an encouragement to pursue our hopes and dreams, with God ALL things are possible and I have to trust in Him that his Plan and Purpose for my life will be reveal, I know always in His time. Jerm. 29:11 has always been on my frig, I need to look at more and remember He is my Father and wants the best for me. Thank you! God Bless you for this message I really needed it today.

  7. God is truly an amazing God. He is always there to instruct & teach us where to go. He always has his loving eyes on us…the õnly thing we must do is trust & follow Our Heavenly Father.

  8. Today I will press on in my commitment to my marriage. My husband has legally separated from me, but I will continue to pray for him, for his salvation, the restoration of our marriage, and to live as Christ-like as possible through this ordeal.

  9. With God’s help, I am pressing on also!!! We will celebrate 31 years of marriage in 2 weeks. The roller coaster of our relationship many times makes me want to give up – but it’s knowing that I am in covenant relationship with God, and His help that sees me through. Thank you for your message!!!

  10. Thank you for those words! I’m in a battle of losing weight. I have lost 125 lbs. I need to hear you got to keep on keeping on.

  11. With God’s help, I’m pressing on today! This devotion was so timely… I thank God and I’m amazed by His wondrous ways. I’m 19 and involved in youth ministry but becoming very stressed by it. Saints please remember me in prayer!!

  12. You don’t know how much I needed this message. I’ve been stuck in a seemingly impossible situation for years but constantly praying for God’s help and guidance. I know he will provide in time but sometimes I need encouragement to keep going. Today God spoke to me through your word. Thank you, Sharon. Please know that your ministry touches so many people in wonderful ways.

  13. With God’s help, I’m pressing on Today and everyday forward. Thank you for those reminders of without failure there would be no success!

  14. My heart has been wanting to give up so many times in this last year, and yesterday was just another one of those days when everything was going wrong and I felt as if I just couldn’t try any more. Thank you for this Devotion and “With God’s help, I’m pressing on today”!!

  15. As a teacher, my favorite saying is “I don’t want to, but I will!” Ironically, I say this more to myself than anyone else. ONLY with God’s help, I’m pressing on…Blessings, everyone!

  16. There have been many times in my life I thought I wanted to give up. But this last year of my life has been the worse for me I am only 50 years young but my bones say different and this morning has been the worse so needless to say I SO NEEDED THIS TO BE THE FIRST THANK I READ THIS MORNING THANK YOU SHARON FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!!!!!!
    WITH GOD’S WORD, HEART, LOVES I AM READ TO PRESS ON TO THE GOLD OF MY ETERNAL GOD!!!!!!! Thank you GOD for NEVER GIVING UP ON ME!!!!!!!

  17. I am in the music ministry and as a woman there have been so many times that I have wanted to run the other direction. I am in a field that in my denomination is generally male dominated. After more than 25 years. I am tired of the hassle, disrespect and the meanness of many “Christians”. It has been very difficult to keep going lately. It would be so easy to walk away. Your words today brought comfort and joy to my soul. It is just what I needed to hear. With God’s help, I’m pressing on today!!!

  18. With Gods help I am pressing on today!
    This devotion is right on time. I lost my job, lost an appeal case and I am flat broke.
    Wanted to give up! Nevertheless, Yesterday I got a job paying more money and it is more flexible than the job I was terminated from! Praise God! He always has a better plan!

    1. Hi Nichole, congrats on the new job, I’m waiting for God to do wonders in my life as well. Thanks for that beautiful witness you game, it gave me hope.

  19. With God’s help, I’m pressing on today! Thank you, thank you, Sharon for your encouraging post! I am in the middle of wanting to “quit” right now. I was just venting to a good friend last night and this morning how I don’t know if I can continue on in leading a particular class. at church. I don’t know if what I’m doing is “making a difference”. I certainly am waiting to see the fruitfulness of my labors. Trying to press on and trust God!

  20. “With God’s help, I’m pressing on today!” I’ve been praying for a Word for God and I’ve been getting through your blog and Girlfriends in God. Thank you for the words of empowerment, they are doing a mighty work in God’s kingdom.

  21. With God’s help, I am pressing on today! I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13). Last night at church service, our Pastor talked about us having “every spiritual blessing”! I have Him in me, and because of that, NOTHING is impossible for me. Not the fact that I am married to a non-believer for the past 34 1/2 years, nor the fact that I face multiple difficult situations at my house every single day. Everything in this world is only temporary. I live for the eternal, not the here and now. This will all pass away, and then I will go home to my REAL home and be with my Lord forever! So again I say, with God’s help, I am pressing on today! I am keeping my eyes on the prize.

  22. With God’s help, I’m pressing on today. I too have had to move on from a position where I felt I had answered God’s call on my life. I am applying to other positions and trusting that God will direct my path…I truly want to serve Him wherever He leads!

  23. Sharon,
    This is what I truly needed to hear today. There are times in life where I have been down but I am a fighter and usually jump back to my feet and brush my self off. In the past year there have been so many struggles, heartaches and pains I have for the first time in my life through my hands up and said ” I give up” I actually even went to church Sunday ready to pick a fight with God. I asked how can you allow so much to happen to one person, I give so much to everyone around me and I just feel so used and alone. Well let me just tell you He used that service to speak to my heart and let me know that I am never alone. It is funny but each day this week He has made sure to surround me with people and messages I need to hear like your message today. Thank you so much for your posts each and everyday!!! ” With God’s help, I am pressing on today!!!

    1. Hi Lisa, I understand what you are going through because I was feeling that same way and it is hard sometime to press forward, but I do realize that as Christians, we need to encourage ourselves sometime and not depend on others to lift us up. So thanks for your insight and keep encouraging yourself, it will put a smile on your face. be bless and have a wonderful day.

  24. With God’s help I am pressing on today. Thank you so much. You are helping many people. I am forwarding this to my many sisters in Christ here in The Bahamas and my biological sister in New York. This will inspire them all. May God continue the richly bless and keep you!

  25. I hope you never again wonder if what you do does anyone any good. For every comment you see here, there must be untold numbers silently thinking “That was just what I needed to hear today.” Thank you for all you do.

  26. With God’s help I’m pressing on today! I woke up today to find my wound open up again on my foot and I said no more I don’t care if they take my foot ,then I read ur message and felt a new spirit once again. Thank you for ur world they mean so much

  27. With God’s help, I am pressing on! Purging belonging because I have to sell my house and it gets a bit overwhelming at times! Thanks for your great messages and God bless you.

  28. I got up this morning thinking that I am not smart Enough and thanks for this devotional! It greatly encouraged me! But at 66 years old I wonder what could I do. I am a missionary and sometimes feel that I am not doing muCh and expect more fruit from my labor but then wonder whether it is my fault or that is God’s will at this time! I have done everything I know how but I don’t see much progress and not as many souls saved as I expect or would like to see… I pray that God will reveal this to me soon….

  29. With God’s Help I’m pressing on today! Thank you so much for the words of encouragement Sharon! Your devotionals are something I look forward to reading everyday, a true blessing for me. Thank you so much!

  30. With God’s help, I’m pressing on today! Even as I write this my eyes fill with tears because in spite of the challenges I’ve faced in the last two years, I know God wants me to birth the dreams he’s put inside me! Most days I feel like giving up, but there are a few times when I feel my dreams are so close I can touch them. Thank you for Paul’s reminder.

  31. With God”s help I’m pressing on today! Thank you so much. You’ve been an encouragement to me while I’ve been homeschooling my daughter these last 4 years. She graduates in the Spring. God Bless..

  32. With God’s help,I’m pressings today!!!!! I have struggled with a chronic illness for years. I have told myself many of times, I am not good enough. I need to read your book!!!

    Marne

  33. Thank you for allowing God to use you to touch others lives.
    Thanks for all the words of encouragement you share.
    Thanks for the reminders.
    With God’s help, I’m pressing on today.

    1. This is exactly what I wanted to say. Thank you Sharon for your wonderful ministry. Have been feeling anxious, sad, and angry about situations in my life lately, but you have provided me with encouragement and gotten me ” back on track”! You are ALWAYS a great blessing to me, as are the other bloggers. With God’s help, I’m pressing on today!

  34. Thankyou Sharon for all u do in your writing.I so lomorning
    forward to reading each and everyone one them.I am very thankful that god has given u the wisdom that he has.U truly are a wonderful person and I am so very fortunate to have come into your devotions.So please know how very much each and everyone of us needs to hear your words.So today I am pressing On with gods arms around me I so needed to hear this morning.Thanks again sharon and may u have a very blessed and christ filled day!
    Grandma h.

  35. “With God’s help, I’m pressing on today”…..thank you for today’s devotion. I had honestly almost reached a point of giving up. I just cannot seem to get things right. Every facet of my life right now is totally turned upside down. I’m second guessing everything I do. no peace in my heart at all right now. I covet your prayers.

  36. After Last nights depressing conversation on im with someone I had made my mind up to give up and just say Phft no one really cares anyway so why bother. But after readingyour message today I will press on. Thanks !

  37. With God’s help.I.am.pressing on.today! I was just admitted to the hospital this morning and it is my heart and I do not get paid when not at work and no insurance and rent is due…but GOD….I will not quit

  38. With God’s help, I’m pressing on today!
    I’ve been diagnosed with not one disease but two. I’ve been down for the last 5 and a half years but with God’s help, I’m pressing on. I’m not giving up on my dreams because of my illnesses. All this time of getting knocked down and pulling myself up again just to get knocked down again – it’s taken it’s toll…and I had given up. But recently I feel like God is telling me to get back up, dust myself off and try again. And, praise God, I’m doing it!!! Thanks for your awesome devotional!!

  39. With Gods help, I’m pressing on today!!
    Thank you so much for your words, and ministry. You are touching many many lives and you will be rewarded in heaven. What a joy to be able to reach so many women with the positive impact you have. May God keep blesisng you!

  40. Sharon, with the good lords help I’m pressing on! I wanted to stay in bed today after working 12 hours last night, but I have put my two old feet on the floor and I am pressing on. I want to do whatever the good lord wants me to do. Thank you Sharon and the good lord!

  41. Sharon, Thank you for this blog and the encouragment that it has brought me, you see I have given up! I’m 51 years old and weigh 240 lbs my doctor told me back in February that I needed to loose weight or my body was going to eventually stop functioning as it was meant to because I am a short person (only 5.1). I was gung ho when I first started and because I deal with clinical depression as well, I gave UP. Now my husband and son are extremely worried about me as I am also. I want to move forward, I want to press on, I want to loose the weight, being obese and depressed is robing me of the life of joy I know I’m meant to live through Christ. Now I understand what Paul meant when he talked pressing on/pressing forward so I say on a positive note I WILL Move Forward and Press on Today and everyday with God’s help I can do anything. Thank you! I love your blogs! and your books.

    1. You can do this! I encourage you to not do it alone. Groups like weight watchers are a great encouragement, and it is so much better to fight this battles with others in the same boat. Don’t give up!

  42. Dear Sharon,

    With God’s help, I’m pressing on today! Thank you for your encouraging message. EVERYBODY NEEDS ENCOURAGEMENT! You have been a source of encouragement for me for several years through GIG daily devotionals. Please keep pressing on!

    Agape,

    Lynn Greger

  43. Sharon,
    I grew up as 1 of the 7 children to a pastor and his wife. I grew up knowing about God. I
    accepted Christ as my savior at the ripe old age of four. At nineteen, I turned away from God because of certain circumstances in my life. Recently, I have returned to the Lord. I can honestly say life with Him is not easier, but it is most certainly better. Because of choices I made in my life while I was not walking with Him, I am now going through something very tough that other people go through, not me. Today, I really felt like giving up the fight for my children as well as myself. I read your blog at just the right time today. It was a reminder that if God is for us, who can be against us? Thank you.

  44. With God’s Help….pressing on today!

    This has been a year full of ‘stuff’—it started in January…and it hasn’t let up yet! I’m learning, like…
    Habakkuk—Nevertheless, I will REJOICE in the Lord!
    Jehoshaphat—-fast, pray, set my face on GOD, sing and praise in the face of the enemy!
    David—-what time I am afraid, I WILL TRUST IN HIM!

  45. With God’s help, I am pressing on today! Two illnesses in my extended family, I have to be strong for them with God’s help and guidance

  46. Hi Sharon and thank you. I have been a writer since age 7, I am 56 yrs old. I have so much I have written; including my lifetime memoirs. I know I am a good writer and I just lack the confidence or (faith) to get it published. I will keep praying and keep writing. I need to say your website has helped me so much as a writer, wife, mother, grandmother and whatever else I need to be and am, your site has greatly encouraged me.
    Thank you.
    Rhonda

  47. First of all, thank you for what you do. I want to push on, but I am not sure how. I have felt a calling to go into the ministry sine high school. My Dad would not let me because it was so out of the norm for women back in 1980. So, I went to school to be a teacher, but still felt the calling. I thought about it all the time and realized I didn’t feel worthy because of some abuse I had gone through for years and years. I just kept going to school and earned my PhD in 1991. I had a good teaching career at various Universities, but my health started failing and finally in 2004 I was forced to retire and go on disability. So here I am in 2013, so blessed in many ways. I enrolled in an online program to get an MA in Christian Leadership with an emphasis in pastoral care. I was hospitalized during the first class and had to drop it because I was just too sick, that happened three times. I would start a class and not be able to finish, yet every single day I hear that same calling and can’t get it off my mind and heart. I want to serve in a chaplaincy role in VA nursing homes and other nursing homes. I want and need to be obedient to this calling. With my current health problems, I have been diagnosed with two incurable staph infections, they are antibiotic resistant, so there only a few that work somewhat and they are very expensive ($300 – $500 a week), I so want to push forward, but don’t know how. I am praying of course.

  48. With Gods help..I am pressing on today!!!
    Woke up and felt like giving up.. Taxes right left and center. Price hikes through and through..felt like it was overwhelming but am so encouraged.
    Thankyou so much

  49. Today is my 3rd day at my new job. I feel like I’m not catching on quick enough, not learning the computer program as fast as I think I should. However, I lknow God put me in this job and I am so thankful. He will give me what I need to learn this job and I will not give up! I will succeed thru him!

    1. Lord, I pray for Patricia today. I pray that she will catch on to the tasks of this job quickly. Give her supernatural ability to learn and retain. Pleae her in this new position. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

  50. With God’s help, I am pressing on! I just love how God brings the message I need to hear at exactly the time I need to hear it. ?

  51. “With God’s help, I’m pressing on today! Yesterday was a battle! But today is a new day and Praise God I am going forward with His grace and love!! Let me join the other comments and say “thank you!” for doing your blog! You are an inspiration and blessing!!!

  52. “With God’s help, I’m pressing on today!” I am currently in something that only God can handle and I have been prayer and trying to stay positive throughout the process, It has been so hard. For example, Lost my job, can not pay rent, no car and all the bills are piling up and the bill collectors are call my phone always. However, I know God has not brought me this far to leave me now. Therefor, with Gods help, I’m pressing on ladies Amen.

  53. Sharon,
    I’am having a hard time not trying to give up..But I throw GOD my hands an say help me GOD help me,,,I study his word I read alot on how to handle some of my heavy burdens and I talk to GOD all day long.. I tell him how much, I love him praise him, adore him, and I all ways ask him what can I do for him today…. Why is it so hard to hear his voice, or why is it so hard to see what he does for me through people….I’am always asking GOD to help me understand thing that I read and study to get to know him better….And its like the more I do the less I understand why I don’t see GODS work being done….I just keep saying help me GOD help me… Can you help me understand this better in this part of my life… I trust GOD in what he doing with me right now I just don’t understand it… is it faith is it timing what is it…

    Sharon I do get alot out of the blogs that I read each day and I does help me to keep pressing on everyday and not to give up cause I am not a quiter never been on and not going to be one now.

    Thanks Lori

  54. With God’s help I am pressing on today. Part of that help came through a lovely devotional written by one of His own daughters, Sharon Jaynes. You DO touch many, many people every day and lugging those boxes around? WORTH IT!! <3 God continue to bless you!

  55. With God’s help I’m pressing on today!! 🙂
    Thank you SO much for your words of wisdom!
    In Jesus name I pray for every person that
    commented on this page, the battles they
    are facing and the writer of these God-spoken
    words. Amen

  56. with god help I’m pressing on today.I have to call on the lord every hour of each day to not give up.shedding many tears daily.Lord don’t let me give up.thank you Sharon you do make such a difference.we need your encouraging words.Lord help Sharon to always know she helps so many people more than she would ever know.

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