Life Requires Grit

Life Requires Grit

Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll is known for bringing in motivational speakers, professional golfers, authors, and sports psychologists to teach and challenge his team on how to get that extra edge. In his journey, he encountered a trait called “grit” that captured his attention. It is a term coined by Angela Lee Duckworth, a psychologist and associate professor from the University of Pennsylvania, who states, “In all those very different contexts, one characteristic emerged as a significant predictor of success. And it wasn’t social intelligence. It wasn’t good looks, physical health, and it wasn’t IQ. It was grit.”^a

She defines grit as “a passionate perseverance toward a long-term goal.” You see, it takes grit to be successful in this life. Your talent isn’t enough. Your opportunities aren’t enough. Your resources aren’t enough. Those things are important, but it takes grit, a passionate perseverance toward your long-term goal, to be what God wants you to be.

Proverbs 28:20 speaks of this type of faithfulness. It says, “The trustworthy person will get a rich reward, but a person who wants quick riches will get into trouble.” Don’t take shortcuts, but passionately persevere in doing what God has called you to. Remember, if it was easy, you wouldn’t be needed. Be trustworthy, determined, and unrelenting, and persevere to the finish line.

The trustworthy person will get a rich reward, but a person who wants quick riches will get into trouble.

Proverbs 28:20