Failure is never final. You’re never a failure until you quit, and it’s always too soon to quit! You don’t determine a person’s greatness by his talent, his wealth, or his education. You determine a person’s greatness by what it takes to discourage him.

So what does it take to discourage you from going after your dream? It may be as simple as a friend or family member telling you, “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

The Bible says in Galatians 6:9, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (NIV).

You want to know how many times I wanted to resign from Saddleback Church? Just every Monday morning when I would think, “God, surely somebody could have done a better job than I did yesterday. This thing is too big for any one person.” 

And it’s as if God says, “Just keep on keeping on.” I may not be real bright sometimes, but I don’t know how to quit. I don’t know how to give up.

God works in your life according to your faith. The Bible says, “Without faith it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6 NIV) and “Whatsoever is not of faith is sin” (Romans 14:23 KJV) and “According to your faith let it be done to you” (Matthew 9:29 NIV).

So what are you doing in faith? You need to ask yourself every day when you get up, “God, what can I do today that will require faith?” That’s an important question—because living each day by faith pleases God.

There are a lot of things in your life you don’t have control over. You didn’t control who your parents were, when you were born, where you were born, or what your race or nationality is. You didn’t control what gifts and talents you were given. You didn’t decide how you look.

But you do have complete control over how much you choose to believe God. God uses people who expect him to act, who never give up, who take risks in faith, who go after the dream he’s given them.

Do you want to be the kind of person God uses to accomplish his purpose? Don’t let anything discourage you from following his dream!