No matter how many times we try, we seem to end up failing. This can be especially frustrating if we have been trying to overcome a particular habit for a long time. It reminds me of what W.C. Fields said about quitting drinking: "It's easy. I've done it a thousand times."

It may seem like we have tried to overcome something a thousand times or more and still seem to come up short. Yet we mustn't give up. God is always there for us when we fail, and He will never leave us or give up on us (Hebrews 13:5). Overcoming is a process that includes moments of success, moments in which we pause and catch our breath—and sometimes moments of failure. But consistent effort with God's help makes overcoming a certainly.