The Power of Perseverance

No matter the circumstance, one of the hardest things to do is to keep on going when every fibre of your being is screaming at you to stop. So, when was the last time you were tempted to give up? In 1968, during the Mexico City Olympics, a marathon runner from Tanzania named John Stephen Akhwari fell badly, injuring his leg. Everyone expected him to quit. But hours after the winner had finished, Akhwari limped into the stadium, bloodied and exhausted, and determined to cross the line. When asked why he hadn't stopped, he said, "My country didn't send me 10,000 miles to start the race. They sent me 10,000 miles to finish it." That's the power of perseverance. And it's exactly what God's talking about here: Hebrews 10:35-36 So don't lose the courage that you had in the past. Your courage will be rewarded richly. You must be patient. After you have done what God wants, you will get what he promised you. Time and again, life hits us with setbacks. Our faith is sorely tested. And yet, God calls us not merely to start, but to finish – with courage, with patience, with trust. It's not about gritting your teeth and pushing through in your own strength. It's about holding on to Christ, who has already run the race before us. He endured the cross. He pressed through the shame. And now He reigns in glory. And the very same power – the very same resurrection power – that raised Him from the dead is available to you, here and now, to get you through to the end. So don't give up. Your faith in Jesus will be rewarded. Not because you're strong enough, but because He is faithful enough. In Him, the finish line is certain and the prize is eternal. That's God's Word. Fresh … for you … today.