Are you struggling with what you are doing and feel like quitting? Life is full of challenges. Learning to get through them is a major key to being successful. Without trials, there will be no triumph and without tests, there will be no testimonies. This post is aimed at showing you the ingredients you need for success in spite of all odds.

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. - John 16:33 (NKJV).

For there is hope for a tree, if it is cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its tender shoots will not cease. Though its root may grow old in the earth, and its stump may die in the ground, yet at the scent of water it will bud and bring forth branches like a plant - Job 14:7-9 (NKJV).

Many people are tired of living; they have struggled for a long time with no tangible result to show for all the efforts. Some have attributed their situations to their family background, illiteracy and poverty, and so have resolved to take it as their fate. However, the truth is that there are many people who have gone through worse situations and emerged successful.

Let's consider some examples to inspire you:

A) From the scriptures

1. Daniel (Daniel 1-6)

He was a noble Jewish youth of Jerusalem who was taken into captivity by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. However, he rose to be a major leader in Babylon who served under three or four rulers. He was highly preferred of other leaders. He prospered in a foreign land where he was supposed to be a slave. Surely, he succeeded against all odds.

1. Joseph (Genesis 37-50)

He went from the pit, where his brothers first put him, to Potiphar's house as a slave; then from Potiphar's house to the prison for committing no crime, except for refusing to lie with his master's wife. Finally, he got to the palace as the second in command in Egypt. He went through trying periods before his success even though God showed him earlier that he was going to be above his brethren and that they would bow to him.

B) Contemporary examples

1. Nick Vujicic,

He is an Australian evangelist and motivational speaker, a man with no limbs who has great impact on the lives of many people showing that you have no excuse. He is considered to be one of the richest and most influential personalities in the United States of America. He went through a lot while growing up and even attempted suicide, but thanks to God He overcame them all and succeeded against all odds.

1. Ben Carson

He was a troubled youth that grew up under abject poverty but had a mother who had faith in him and influenced him positively. He ended up being a renowned neurosurgeon, and has written several books, including the popular autobiography 'Gifted Hands'

All these people went through a lot of challenges but they fought their way through into success by taking certain conscious decisions and steps. Let's consider them here:

INGREDIENTS FOR SUCCESS

What you must have, be or do to succeed in spite of all odds

1. Righteousness

The number one ingredient you need is a right standing with God, because a just man may fall seven times, but he will rise up again; however, the wicked will fall into mischief (Proverbs 24:16). It takes God to succeed against all odds. You need His help and favour to make it successfully. It starts with you receiving His son Jesus Christ as your saviour. Christ reminds us in John 16:33 that in this world we will have troubles, but He ended by assuring that in Him you will have peace because He has overcome the world.

2. Do what is required

It is not enough to say you have done your best. The question is, "Have you done the required?" You need to discover what is required for you to succeed. Go for knowledge and apply the same. The truth remains that God's people are destroyed or defeated for lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6). You must do the required for you to succeed in life.

3. Persistence and Perseverance

This is continuing in what you believe in or are doing in spite of difficulties, challenges, oppositions or delays in achieving success. You tend to become stronger, more grateful and compassionate, as you strongly persist and preserve. You need to keep moving, NEVER QUITTING. Isaac kept digging new wells until the Philistines stopped quarreling over wells with him (Genesis 26:18-22).

Martin Luther King, Jr. said "If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward." Many people fail without realizing how close they were to succeeding by the time they were quitting.

4. Courage

You need to be courageous if you are going to succeed against all odds. You need it if you are going to do what you have never done before or you won't want to do again. It enables you to keep going on even when you don't have the strength to continue. It is the backbone of all successful men and women. God had to tell Joshua to be courageous again and again because of the task he had ahead of him (Joshua 1:1-9). He was entering into Moses shoes and they were very big. But he did as the Lord instructed him and he became very successful.

5. Diligence

This is a very important ingredient. You need to work hard and be diligent in your pursuit for success. It is not child's play. It requires a lot of effort, time and sacrifices. Diligence will take you places, make you to stand before kings and not before unknown men (Proverbs 22:29).

"To achieve what 1% of the world's population has (Financial Freedom), you must be willing to do what only 1% dare to do...hard work and perseverance of highest order." Manoj Arora

6. Consistency

This is acting or doing something in the same way over time, especially so as to be fair or accurate. In essence, if you want to succeed, you must take charge of your consistent actions. This is because it is what you do consistently that shapes your life and not what you do occasionally. It is the difference between failure and success. Daniel was consistent in his prayers to God that his enemies tried to use it against him when they could find no other fault in him, he was very faithful. However, his consistency paid off for him. God delivered him from the lion's den and the Lord was honoured by the king (Daniel 6).

7. Enthusiasm

You need to be enthusiastic about what you are doing towards achieving success. This is to have intense and eager pleasure, interest, or endorsement in what you are doing. You can't attract others to your service or product without being able to convince them that it is worth it. Enthusiasm helps you to sell you and your ideas, products or service to your potential customers or clients. Paul was very enthusiastic about his assignment to the gentiles that he chose to remain with them, rather than die and go to be with the Lord, so as to help them be established in the Lord (Philippians 1:21-25).

8. Hope

Hope is the pillar that feeds your perseverance. It is what empowers you to turn your obstacles into stepping stones to higher grounds. It fuels your desire to succeed in spite of all odds. The bible is the best bank for hope. It is full of seeds of hope. When you plant them in your heart you will have hope. A tree may grow old in the ground, and its stump may be dead too in the ground, but at the smell of water it will sprout and bring forth fruits (Job 14:7-9), that is the power of hope. Hopelessness is the reason why people quit even when they are so close to their breakthrough.

9. Faith

You need to have faith in God and in yourself. If you can believe nothing will be impossible to you (Mark 9:23). No matter the challenges that may come your way, with faith, you will overcome them all. Abraham had faith in God and the Lord did to him as He had said to him. Abraham obeyed the Almighty, left his family and started going to a place unknown to him without questioning Him (Genesis 12:1-4). He held unto God's word concerning his fruitfulness in spite of the state of his body (Romans 4:17-21), till Sarah gave birth to Isaac.

10. Inspiration

For you to succeed against all odds, you need to locate and follow those who had passed through what you are going through presently and succeeded, people who are where you desire to be, and people who will always inspire you to keep going on and not to quit. You can't be an island and go far in life. The greatest one to locate for inspiration is the Holy Spirit. The inspiration of the Almighty gives understanding (Job 32:8, KJV).

11. Contentment -

Contentment is great gain (I Timothy 6:6). You need to be contented with every level of progress you make and be thankful to God. Choose not to murmur or complain about what is yet to work in your life so that you or your work will not be destroyed (1 Corinthians 10:10).

12. Patience 

Finally, Patience is another ingredient to add to obtain good and lasting success. You have need of patience that after you have done what is required you will obtain success (Hebrews 10:36). Also, be patient with yourself; Rome was not built in one day.

In conclusion, surely, a combination of all the above will give you success against all odds. Joe Mari Fadrigalan beautifully put it this way, "A bowl of diligence and perseverance, a cup of faith and a pinch of inspiration mixed with a spoon of contentment are the ingredients of a delicious success. Cook yours well." You are not the first to go through what you are going through and you will not be the last. Choose to be among the few that will always opt to succeed in spite of all odds. Remember, God will be there to help you all the way.