I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13 (NIV).

Have you given up? Have your hopes been crushed? Are you tired of trying? Weary with effort? Feeling dejected? Limping along? Wondering whether it’s worth pressing on? Maybe not on the surface, but in your heart?

There’s probably a good reason too. You may be struggling with persistent pain. Or wrestling with a gut-wrenching grief. Perhaps it’s a sense of betrayal. Or someone has unrealistic expectations of you. On the other hand you may be depressed by money matters. Or lonely because of the loss of a loved one. Then again you may be at a point in life where you feel totally useless. Or even worse – you’ve been diagnosed with a terminal illness and the doctor has told you to get your affairs in order.

No matter what the setback is, you’re tired and dejected. Feeling like it’s just too much to endure. In fact it may be so bad you’ve even thought the unthinkable. About ending it all. Writing the final chapter.  Just giving up. After all, you’ve argued, what’s the point. Nothing seems to help and no one seems to care.

Life can be like that. Hard. Unyielding.  A Gordian knot.

But here’s the good news. If you’ve dedicated your life to Christ. If Jesus is your Lord and Saviour. Then you “can do everything through him who gives” you “strength” Philippians 4:13. Disappointments are not dead ends. There is no insurmountable barrier until you stop trying. There is always something around the corner. And there are no hopeless situations. For even though you may be discouraged, God never gets discouraged. And even though you may be wanting to call it quits, God never quits. As it says in Isaiah 40:28-29, “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary … He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.”

Yes, your extremity is God’s opportunity. Disappointments are not dead ends. “All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it” 1 Corinthians 10:13 (MSG).