Press On

Press On

Think of all the hostility [Jesus] endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. Hebrews 12:3

Perhaps you’ve heard the encouragement that you can be anything you want to be if you’re willing to work for it: teacher, physician, writer, engineer, mother, missionary, or any number of other equally worthy pursuits. However, being successful in life and career takes dogged perseverance because the path to attaining most goals worth reaching is strewn with obstacles and setbacks. It’s very easy to quit in discouragement before you reach the end.

Florence Chadwick’s experience has something to say to us about this. Many years ago this world-champion, long-distance swimmer, who had already swum the English Channel, was set to swim from the California coast to Catalina Island. But on the morning Florence dove into the water for the forty-six-mile swim, it was so foggy she couldn’t see her trainers’ boats around her, and the water chilled her to the bone. Her trainers had to use rifles to drive away the sharks who were circling. After fifteen grueling hours in the water, Florence grew more and more discouraged. Finally, she could go no farther and asked the trainers to take her out of the water.

When she got into the boat, she saw she was only a half mile from Catalina’s shore. She had stopped within sight of her destination! Sometimes we, too, become shrouded in a fog of discouragement or weariness, and it looks as if we’re making no progress at all. But Florence’s experience reminds us not to give up too soon. We need to keep praying and keep going and gather others around us to help us persevere. The breakthrough may be just around the corner. —CHERI

Lord Jesus, when I am tempted to give up, strengthen me and give me the perseverance to continue.

As you go along your road in life, you will, if you aim high enough, also meet resistance . . . but no matter how tough the opposition may seem, have courage still and persevere. —MADELEINE ALBRIGHT, FORMER U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE