I once read a story of a gold miner who left his home and job and everything he had to go and look for gold. He travelled for days until he finally came to a place where he thought there was gold. So he started to dig. And he dug and he dug. For weeks he dug. Until he had a long deep tunnel. Months went by and he still continued to dig. It got harder and hander as the soft ground turned into solid rock. But he continued to work. Until finally one morning he threw his shovel and pick on the ground and said, “what’s the use, there’s nothing here, I’m had enough of this.” So he left and went home empty handed. Years went by. The tunnel slowly caved in and was filled with dirt and rubble. Finally, a mining company bought the land to open a gold mine in the area. For they were sure that there was gold there. They found the man’s tunnel and cleared it out. They found where the man had stopped. His pick and shovel still there. They then drilled down and blasted out a section of rock face. Just a few feet from where the man had stopped, they found a rich gold vein, which became one of the richest in the area. 

You know, so often we quit too soon, when, if we had have persevered just a little longer, we would have gained the victory. This reminds me of a poem I once read that really encouraged me to never to quit.

Don't Quit

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When 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 if he'd 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 afar;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit -
It's when things seem worst that you mustn't quit.

Author Unknown

Success is failure turned inside out. I like that. The best way to overcome your mistakes is the learn from them and not do the same thing again. We cannot dwell on our mistakes and mull over and over them until they are bigger then what they really are. Instead, we need to look at the positive experiences we’ve had. 

A Christian author, Ellen White wrote:

  “Many, walking along the path of life, dwell upon their mistakes and failures and disappointments, and their hearts are filled with grief and discouragement. While I was in Europe, a sister who had been doing this, and who was in deep distress, wrote to me, asking for some word of encouragement. The night after I had read her letter I dreamed that I was in a garden, and one who seemed to be the owner of the garden was conducting me through its paths. I was gathering the flowers and enjoying their fragrance, when this sister, who had been walking by my side, called my attention to some unsightly briers that were impeding her way. There she was mourning and grieving. She was not walking in the pathway, following the guide, but was walking among the briers and thorns. "Oh," she mourned, "is it not a pity that this beautiful garden is spoiled with thorns?" Then the guide said, "Let the thorns alone, for they will only wound you. Gather the roses, the lilies, and the pinks."

     Have there not been some bright spots in your experience? Have you not had some precious seasons when your heart throbbed with joy in response to the Spirit of God? When you look back into the chapters of your life experience do you not find some pleasant pages? Are not God's promises, like the fragrant flowers, growing beside your path on every hand? Will you not let their beauty and sweetness fill your heart with joy?

Steps to Christ pp. 116-117

So remember, Don’t Quit, God will strengthen you with whatever you have to face in your life! And next time you feel discouraged remember to think of the positive and joyous times in your life.

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.