Persistence: firm or obstinate continuance in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition.
Sometimes it seems like I am constantly busy but never get anything accomplished. I am running from one thing to the next. I am all over the place. I’ve got my hand in a lot of different cookie jars, but I am never really able to grab any one cookie. The problem is a lack of persistence with any one thing. Before I am fully finished with one thing, I am off to the next.
Persistence is a rare thing. Our attention spans are short. There is always the newest and latest shiny thing. We are going down a path and then … SQUIRREL!!! Off in a different direction.
It is incredibly difficult to accomplish anything meaningful without persistence. The truth of the matter is that when we do anything significant we are going to meet resistance. The question is what we will do at the moment we meet that resistance. Will we stay the course or will be back down and go in a different direction?
The reality is that many of us back down when we meet the resistance. We give up on something before we see results. It might be a diet, exercise regime, plan for spiritual growth, business plan, or financial investment. Miracles happen, but real results are not often seen overnight.
In the Book of Hebrews we read:
Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith … Hebrews 12:1–2 (ESV)
The above verse tells us to run with endurance. You may not see the results in the short term but keep at it. Keep looking to Jesus. Keep putting one foot in front of the other. One single step might not seem like much. But when you start to add those steps up over the course of time, it equals a great distance. If you are going in the right direction, give it time.
In this series of posts, I would like to examine the idea of persistence. We will talk about why it is important, how to build it into our lives, and how God gives us the strength to stay on the path.
Questions for Reflection
- How would you define persistence?
- In what areas of your life do you struggle with persistence?
- How is persistence discovered?
- Share your comments.
Michael says
Persistence is about been focus and result driven to achieve something in life. Well, what need to be achieve might varies and the energy needed will achieve that will us be determine .