“The Little Engine That Could.” is one of those marvelous children’s stories that  stays with you.

I’m 74 years old and still, to this today, when faced with difficulties, I often find myself remembering a picture of the little engine chugging down the mountain saying, “I knew I could, I knew I could.”

The story first appeared in 1930. There have been many versions through the 80 years.

As a trainer, teacher and psychologist, I don’t know that I can give you a better example of how to persevere and overcome obstacles.

If you haven’t read it, do so today. It’s free online.

Life is always full of obstacles and problems and all to often we just give up on our dreams and as the saying goes, we live out our lives in quiet desperation. If this has happened to you, How sad, this is because this is Not God’s Highest and best for you and certainly not why Jesus came! John 10:10 states, “Jesus came to give you life and to give you life more abundantly”, anything less than God’s highest and best for your life is essentially sad and Jesus is on a mission to change that for you. What most people don’t like is the hard process and long waiting times that can often occur as they wait on God to work. But to get God’s highest and best for your life, you will have to endure the uncomfortable uprooting, uncertainties, changes, waiting times and the ups and downs that may occur as Jesus works in your life!

Vince Lombardi said “The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack or strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will.”

As Jesus works to change things in your life and move you from where you are to where God wants you to be, Obstacles may try to get in your way and your “I think I can” may get weaker. This is not the time to give up, give out or quit, you must persevere. YOU must Push yourself into action. You must find reasons to go on. You must pray, press and push past any lull that may exist in your life because of depression thoughts that may try to take your mind over and choke the life out of you. You have to purposely and willingly choose to believe that God has not brought you this far to leave you. You must have the uncanny ability to resist depression, discouragement, doubters, naysayers, haters, and those that the devil may try to send in your life to distract and derail you. Your must relentlessly seek after Jesus and grab hold of His invisible supernatural coat tail and never let go, your life and your destiny may very well depend on it. You cannot give up, give out or quit. You must keep going.  You must not faint, cave in give up or give out. You must evict doubt, depression, and distractions from your life. Like the little engine,  YOU must keep on chugging.

Albert Einstein said, “It’s not that I’m so smart.  It’s just that I stay with problems longer.”

When Jesus sends you a creative idea, you may start out with the thought. I wish I could, I wish I could. If it is “really Jesus” that has sent you this idea,  You must pray to Jesus and seek His aid and His guidance to give you the strength, the fortitude and the insight that you’ll need to birth your creative idea.

As you play with the idea and kick around ways to achieve it, you will often begin to image you can do it; by saying “I think I can, I think I can, but sometimes while trying to implement an idea or vision, what typically happens is unforeseen circumstances, inadequate resources, loss of focus, annoying distractions, or insufficient support may show up to try to purposely take you off course and divert your focus.”  If this happens or if it’s happening to you now, help is available to you but you’ll have to seek Jesus!  Do you Want supernatural assistance in birthing any idea that Jesus sends you? If so,  simply pray and say, “Jesus, I invite you to dream through me”, inspire me with your Holy Divine ideas to birth what you’re inspiring me to do” give me “right ideas” and the right mindset to birth what you’re inspiring me to do”! Do it in such a way dear sweet Jesus that I know that it is really you inspiring me and giving me this God given idea, Help me develop this in such a way that it lifts you up and brings God Glory, in Your name, I ask and pray, Amen!

At some point, after you’ve done this, Jesus will begin to send guidance your way, but you will have to take action and work, the creative ideas He sends you will not work through osmosis or through wishful thinking or through praying for it to miraculously work..you do have to actually work for this to be successful. When what Jesus is inspiring you to do begins to work, then  you’ll be chugging along singing “I knew I could, I knew I could.”

When you decide to do this and While you’re waiting on your turnaround or waiting on Jesus to guide you, here are some steps you can take to reach the other side of the mountain as you wait on Him to work
1. Clarify your goal – write it down, get it clearly and concisely on paper. If you don’t know where you are going, I guarantee you, you won’t get there. The goal for the little engine was to get the load up and over the mountain. Great symbolism
2. Commit to achieving your goal – Like the little engines, song “I think I can.” Commit to doing what it takes to get up and over your mountain. Reach your goal.
3. Create a plan – A man must have a plan. Write down your plan, step by step, how are you going to achieve your goal?
4. Visualize – mental imagery is potent stuff. During your meditation time, take a moment to clearly see your goal, see it as fully achieved. It works.
5. Start – This is the hardest step for most of us, it is easier to think, plan and scheme than it is to actually begin. Do some actual footwork each day, even if it’s as simple as making one phone call. Start.
6. A journal – Take time each day to write in your journal. Learn how to journal. This is an often overlooked, powerful technique for achieving your goals and actualizing your dreams.
7. Persist, Persist, Persist

Why should we stay with the struggle? Because when we succeed it helps us remember that success is merely a failure turned inside out.

Brian Tracy stated “Sometimes your greatest asset is simply your ability to stay with it longer than anyone else.”

When a difficulty presents itself be prepared. Practice visualizing your success.

Visualize yourself conquering your mountain. Keep on chugging.

The little engine puffing up the hill symbolizes the essence of not giving up.

So it seems that one method for reaching life’s goals would be to remember the “Little Engine That Could” and keep on chugging.

Remember, “The mighty oak was once a little nut that stood its ground.”

Do you have an “I wish I could?” Then go to work, start chugging up the hill to success and always remember to invite Jesus to help you, remember, He will work if you will.

“Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.”

Copyright © Wee Dilts & “The WIN International Ministries Team”