Feel Like Giving Up? Don’t!

Do you ever feel overwhelmed? Are there days when you could just give up? Do you see the obstacles that stand in the way of your success? Even though failure may appear imminent, some of the difficulty may be designed to strengthen you.

I am not trained or qualified in the field of psychiatry and I am very limited in my understanding of how the human body functions. This entire article is based strictly on my limited appreciation for how God destined us to succeed. Failure should not be an option for any of us.

God left us the following instructions, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:2 KJV

How do we renew our mind? It is not as hard or as spiritual as we may initially think.

I am not and have never been a physically talented or active person. In high school I hated exercising and avoided it as much as possible. It is no surprise that just three years after my last high school physical education class I was overweight and out of shape. That was bad enough but I was on my way to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri to undergo basic training for the U. S. Army Reserve.

It was not a pleasant experience. If not for a lot of men who encouraged me every step of the way, I would not have made it.

During one particularly difficult session one of the drill sergeants said to us, “Men, I know that this is difficult and that at times you may think you are going to die if you take one more step. You won’t die. You will make it through. And, in a very short time after you leave here your brain will push the remembrance of the misery you are going through now right out. You may remember that you were miserable here but you won’t be able to recall the miserable feelings.”

That sergeant was right then and he is right now. I quickly forgot the near failure on my part and remembered mostly the men who encouraged me daily to keep going.

In life we can’t help getting into some difficult situations but when we come out of those circumstances God put within us the ability to forget the misery and remember those who helped us make it through.

The human brain is a wonderful part of our body, designed by God to provide us with unique abilities based on information it receives from our five senses (sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch).

The brain controls our body temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing. It gives us our ability to reason, imagine, and speak the appropriate word or exclamation at exactly the right moment. It controls all of our movement required to walk, talk, stand, or sit.

But one most important function I believe the brain does for us is it knows when to let something go. It knows that many memories would only serve to hurt us further or hold us back and prevent us from reaching for the dreams instilled in us by our creator. Yes, our brain has the ability to hide certain information, much of it negative, pushing some out of our mind in order to make more room for thoughts that encourage us.

I realize that many of us are burdened with some unhealthy experiences in life and with very little effort on our part painful memories can quickly overwhelm us and tempt us to give up, consuming our faith in the process. We have to remind ourself of the hope God has put within us and find people who encourage us to pursue our own dreams and minimize input from those who would discourage us.

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Philippians 4:8 KJV

Wayne Brady 3/9/2012 (revised 5/16/2013)