Don't give up!

 Today, my nutrition reports have been downloaded by more than 30 million people.
 I work from home, for myself, create my own schedule, and absolutely love what I do.  And my “job”—scratch that, my passion—is able to support my wife and two beautiful daughters so that my wife can enjoy the blessing of being home with our children.  Talk about freedom.

But what if...

What if I said “Ugh, this just isn’t meant to be” after the first 100 article rejections?

What if I gave up when I seemingly couldn’t find an agent in the world who was interested in representing my book?

What if I lost hope when my first book release tanked in comparison to expectations?

What if I didn’t push through?
 What if I didn’t persevere? 
What if I GAVE UP?

For one, you wouldn’t be reading this newsletter.  I’d have missed the opportunity to have a positive impact on millions of people all over the world through my writing.

I’d also have never met my wife, because we met only after my writing career allowed me to leave the bitter-cold northeast where I grew up and move to Florida.

I wouldn’t have my two incredible daughters.

Simply put, my life wouldn’t even remotely resemble the life I have now.

And it all comes down to “the push”.  Through the hard times, through the disappointments, through the seemingly hopeless situations.

Lastly, let’s talk about marriage.  Have there been times where I wanted to throw in the towel?  Yes.  Have there been times where I almost did, if it wasn’t for the better counsel of true friends and mentors who just wouldn’t allow me to be that dumb?  Yes.

But, by the grace of God, I didn’t.  I chose more wisely than my feelings.  And thank God I did, because I’m now enjoying a marriage that is honestly better than I ever thought it could be, to a wonderful, amazing woman that I’m incredibly fortunate to call my wife.

And that all started with me.  Me choosing to not give up, me making changes, me taking ownership, and me leading my family.  The rest followed.

Maybe you feel that your own marriage is too far gone and that you’re at the end of your rope.  If that's you, let me give you this advice from experience:  Hold on, surround yourself with the right people—people who will give you the “boost” you need to begin climbing back up—and make the right decisions where they count most.

Work on you first, and the rest will follow.

To close, nothing is too far gone.  Nothing is too hopeless.

One of the biggest cornerstones of my faith is the concept of surrender.

What do we do when things aren’t working out the way we hoped?  What do we do when no matter how hard we try, the situation just isn’t changing?  What do we do when we just can’t seem to catch a break?

Give up?

 Or give it up? 

1 Peter 5:6-7 says, “So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.  Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares for you.”

Give it up to God, and watch what happens.  The disappointments?  They often quickly turn to triumphs.  Your lowest points?  God will use them to raise you up higher than you ever imagined.  The closed doors?  God will open an even better one.

I’m living proof of this truth, dozens of times over.  There is peace, and ultimately freedom, in surrender.

Today, I want to encourage you to press on.  Fight where it counts.  Don’t give up.  Push forward.

The greatest triumphs, the biggest breakthroughs, and the most fulfilling relationships?  They’re always on the other side of the temptation to quit.

In sincere friendship,

Joel