Webster defines frustration as "prevent from succeeding." Have you ever been frustrated? You cut back on the amount of food you eat, don’t eat any sweets, exercise some and get on the scales and there is very little change. You are frustrated because the weight does not come off quickly (I speak from experience).

You have a child that you have told over and over the way something is to be done. When they repeat the offense, you get frustrated and wonder if they will ever learn.

There are times that it seems we are not going to make it. Teaching the children, losing weight, etc., seem to be out of our reach. At this time, there is a tendency to throw up our hands and give up. It would be better to eat what I want than to lose no weight at all. And, at times it may seem like the children will never learn so, let them do it their way. I would venture to say that many have been at this place in their life.

When you get to this point, don’t give up. There is hope. In whatever the activity, the constant perseverance will see you through to the goal. No one ever said it would be easy. Perhaps you have heard the saying, "When the going gets tough, the tough get going." I believe these are true words.

Wouldn’t it be easy to give up if no one listened to you? Wouldn’t it be easier to turn back and seek another path? Let me tell you about a man who trudged on. When he taught people, they listened but, most rejected him and did not do what he said. People didn’t seem to care about things the way he did. It would have been so easy for him to just throw up his hands and give up. Even one of his closest friends turned against him. But he went on. All the way to the cross. And, he died for the sins of these people and others in the future. Jesus surely must have been frustrated when he taught and people didn’t listen. But, his love for them and the final outcome was more important than just giving up.

If you are about to give up, whatever may seem hard at the moment, do not. Hang in there. Who knows, today may be the day the greatest change ever happens. You may lose 2 pounds and the kids finally do it the way you showed them. Don’t give up—especially on God.