If you’ve thought about giving up, I have a quote that will motivate you to keep going: “I didn’t come this far to only come this far.”

Olympic gold-medalist Simone Biles said this during an interview on CBS “60 Minutes” Sunday.

The twenty-three-year-old gymnast discussed her disappointment over cancellation of the Olympic Games in 2020. After training for the event, she admitted feeling depressed and wanting to quit. One of her coaches said, “You’ve trained so hard for this. Why would you give it up?”

“You’re right,” Simone said. “I didn’t come this far to only come this far.” She’s preparing to compete in the Olympics later this year.

I don’t want to forget her words. Maybe you need to memorize them, too, to encourage yourself on those days when you feel like quitting. Maybe you’re there today.

Friends have let you down. You feel alone…angry…sad…hopeless. You’re tired of disappointment. Tired of feeling like you are a huge disappointment. Beaten down and weary, you’re tired of pulling yourself up again. You’re just plain tired of hard.

If you’re struggling, perhaps you’ll find my coping mechanisms helpful.

• Control thoughts. Do not let that dark gloom overwhelm you. Recognize this as a spiritual battle and fight it with spiritual weapons of faith and prayer.
• Memorize Scripture. Choose a verse each week. It’s impossible to dwell in depression when the mind is dwelling on God’s promises. In one year, you will have fifty-two verses to ignite hope as you meditate on them. Thinking God’s thoughts is the most effective shield against the enemy’s attack on the mind. 
• Praise by a decision of the will. Memorize a praise passage and quote it when you don’t feel like praising and you can’t see any reason to sing praise.

Praise is a lifeboat when you feel you’re drowning.

Praise is a lifeboat when you feel you’re drowning. Click To Tweet

Passing through challenges that tempt me to quit, I run to my favorite place for comfort, motivation, and renewal–God’s Word.

“I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvelous works. I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High” (Psalm 9:1-2 KJV).

“He brought out his people with rejoicing, his chosen ones with shouts of joy” (Psalm 105:43 NIV).

“He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom and broke away their chains” (Psalm 107:14 NIV).

“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged” (Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV).

 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV).

Don’t quit! You didn’t come this far to only come this far!

If you’ve ever felt like giving up, tell me how God brought you through it. And please share this article with your friends!

© Dianne Barker 2021