Thomas Edison said, “When you have exhausted all possibilities, remember this – you haven’t.”

The only way you truly give up is to give up. Sounds simple but the truth is nothing is impossible until you give up. Once you give up the possible slips into impossible, not because it is impossible, but because you have made it impossible. Those who are successful in life are those who don’t give up. We all face obstacles on our journey to success. Obstacles teach us how to become successful. Yet many people who face obstacles become disillusioned thinking something is wrong. Obstacles are not always a sign of things going wrong, many times they are a sign of things going right. The path of success is not one of smooth seas and a warm breeze.

In fact, the Bible encourages us to stay strong on our journey when we face obstacles…

James 1:2-4

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Wow, consider it PURE JOY when we face trials of MANY kinds. Why can we consider it pure joy? Because we KNOW (those who have the right outlook about not giving up at least) that the tests we face produce faithful perseverance. And when perseverance works through us we become mature and complete, not lacking anything. I am not sure about you, but I want to be mature, not lacking anything. So how do we get there? By having the right outlook concerning obstacles and trials.

Here are some tips to overcoming obstacles…

1. Have The Right Perspective

Obstacles are actually OPPORTUNITIES to grow and learn. The more we learn and grow, the more we mature in our faith. We can’t run from obstacles, we must journey through them. Never shy away from trials in your life, allow God to work out perseverance in you. Allow obstacles to make you better, not bitter. Remember the word STRESSED is just DESSERTS spelled backwards, change your perspective and you change everything.

2. Have The Right Attitude

Don’t COMPLAIN about obstacles and trials, rather honor God through them. Complaining does NOT honor God, it dishonors Him. Too many people have a grumpy attitude towards trials when God is trying to teach us maturity through them. I am not saying that we will not be tempted and rightfully upset in our flesh, but we must walk in the Spirit not the flesh. The Spirit does not complain it pushes through.

3. Have The Right Patience

Patience is not patience if you are frustrated that things are not changing. Patience is about humbly waiting on God’s timing. This means worry and fear should not exist during our patience. The moment we allow these things to creep in is the moment we stop being patient. In order to never give up we must possess an unending endurance that keeps us driving forward. Many times our breakthrough is right around the corner, don’t give up.