Harry Hartman announced radio broadcasts for the Major League baseball Cincinnati Reds in the 1930s. He is believed to be the first broadcaster to announce a home run with, “Going, going, gone!”

Have you ever wanted to be gone, to quit, to chuck the whole thing? Sometimes you just feel like quitting. You reach the point where you say, “I’m tired of the whole thing. I quit.” This can happen in your marriage, your work, your schooling, or with a project you are working on. So, what should you do when you feel like quitting?

First, keep pressing on. Not every day of your marriage will be heavenly bliss. But most days of your marriage will be satisfying, so keep on building a loving marriage. No one has the perfect job. Every job has some bad parts to it. But, at times, work can be fulfilling, so keep on working. When you feel tired, discouraged, and ready to give up, keep pressing on.

Second, crash through your quitting points. A quitting point is when you first begin to entertain thoughts of quitting. You feel weary and discouraged. You aren’t sure if your efforts are accomplishing anything. You start thinking about giving up, quitting. You have to break through these quitting points, otherwise, you never will develop follow-through in your life.

Of course, the big question is, How do you crash through your quitting points? The answer is found in a wonderful Bible word, “perseverance.” This word does not mean you passively endure your struggles or that you grin and bear it. Rather, this great word means the determination to keep on going.

How does a person lay hold of this wonderful quality? The Bible shows us in James 1:3, “The testing of your faith develops perseverance.” How do you develop perseverance? By going through tough times. Tough times in our lives build a tenacious, fighting spirit in us.

Third, stay aware of the middle period. You have passed the period of initial surprise, thrill, and excitement. The sizzle of the new has worn off. You realize there still is a lot of hard work to be done. Difficulties come. Obstacles arise. You are feeling tired. The enthusiasm that used to carry you over these hurdles has waned. This is what I mean by the middle period.

Our tendency during this middle period is to give up too soon. Are you in the middle period in some area of your life? Your schooling? Your marriage? Your job? Your weight-loss program?

When you are in the middle period what you need is the strength to keep on going. That strength comes from a relationship with Jesus. The writer of Hebrews 12 said, “Run the race with perseverance, looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.” He provides the resolve and determination to keep going.

Fourth, believe God can bring something good out of your struggles. You don’t have to figure out how God will bring good, you just have to stay on the journey with Him and watch Him work. The greatest Bible promise you will ever read is found in Romans 8:28: “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

I pray God will use this precious promise to give you tenacity and persistence. You might be in the middle of a trial or carrying a huge burden. Perhaps you are shouldering some heavy responsibilities. Don’t quit. Keep going in the strength and hope only God can provide.