Keep Trying - Never Give Up

Last Sunday I was sitting in Sunday School in our church and something was said that got me thinking. We were talking about all those things we are "supposed" to be doing in life and how sometimes it can become very overwhelming, even to the point of wanting to give up. One man, finishing up a final thought for the class, said, "Even though I often feel overwhelmed and stressed, the thing that has made the most difference in my life is that I haven't given up. I may have to adjust expectations and take time outs from things, but I continue to think things through and move things around. It is not perfect, but not giving up makes all the difference."

This is true with spiritual matters. This is also true for every aspect in our lives. Sometimes we take on too much. Sometimes things in life happen that are overwhelming and feel like they are too much for us. Sometimes because of others' actions we find ourselves in unpleasant situations. Even though all of these things may happen, we have been given the choice of what we will do in each situation. We can choose to be angry or offended or prideful or mean. We can choose to be kind and gentle and humble.
I'm grateful for that ability to choose. It means I can put my focus and energy into what I choose, instead of what might come most naturally.
So, from this one little comment, my thoughts broke into two parts:
1) Yes, things happen that we cannot control, but I still get to say no when I need to and I have the choice to spend my time doing many different things.
2) When I get up and try to live a purposeful life, that is never giving up. I am not just allowing things to happen to me, but I am making choices about how I will spend my time on a daily basis and I am working hard on achieving the things that matter most.

Do not just let things happen to you. Be in control, make a plan, and then continue to adjust that plan as often as you need to. Keep trying. It makes all the difference.