She was 69 years old and had taken her driving test quite a few times, when I say a few times it was 960 times! It had cost her more than $11,000 dollars but on the 961st attempt she passed!
That’s the true story of a South Korean woman who modelled something powerful.
I think I might have given up, but that’s the power of persistence!
We all know some of the stories,
Howard Schulz the founder of Starbucks got turned down for a loan by over 200 banks but he didn’t give up…
Thomas Edison famously said he found 1,000 ways how not to invent the light bulb before he found a way to do it…
Walt Disney got fired from a newspaper job because he lacked creativity!
I think I might have given up, but that’s the power of persistence!
A river cuts through a rock not because of its power but because of its persistence.
Let me be clear, there is a time to give up, there is a time to say enough is enough, there is a time to admit it hasn’t worked and move on, but I do wonder if we give up when we should press on?
Why is persistence such a powerful thing?
#1 – What happens TO you
The Bible puts it this way….
“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” – James 1:12 NIVUK
Something good comes to you when you persevere and when you persist….
I love what Craig Groeschel says to younger leaders but this is so true for all of us…
“We can over estimate what God will do in the short term and under estimate what God will do in the long term”
To you Church leaders, fruit is found over the long haul not just the short fix, seeds don’t produce overnight, legacy and longevity are connected, there’s power in persistence!
Another reason to keep going is this…
#2 – What happens IN you
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” – 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NIVUK
Paul talks about ‘light and momentary’ troubles but they included shipwreck, prison, being whipped and stoned (and I mean by rocks!!)
Far from light in my opinion but purposeful because they achieve gold within us…if we do not give up…
And there’s more….
#3 – What happens THROUGH you
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” – Galatians 6:9 NIVUK
There’s fruit the other side of persistence…
There’s reward the other side of endurance…
There’s joy the other side of the night….
If we do not give up….
So what about you?
What are you in danger of giving up on that God is wanting you to stick at?
Who are you in danger of giving up on that God is wanting you to stick with?
I’d love to pray for you, drop me a message and together let’s not get weary in doing good, let’s not give up but let’s press on, there’s power in persistence!