You never know how close you are...

“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

“Greatest success comes just one step beyond the point at which defeat overtakes you.”

When we feel overwhelmed by circumstances, we must dig in and keep on going. One of my favorite poems ever is called "Don't Quit" (author seemingly unknown):

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest, if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don't give up though the pace seems slow--
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than,
It seems to a faint and faltering man,
Often the struggler has given up,
When he might have captured the victor's cup,
And he learned too late when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out--
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far,
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit--
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.


This is more of a reminder to me as I write this, just to keep going. (for those in our church: OP:52 will be finished one day!) All things in life may not all be right at the same time, but there is much to be thankful for now, much to live for now, and we never know how close we are to breakthrough. And if we all stand together, hold each other up, we may all make it there!