Getting There Is All About the Next Step

“The rewards for those who persevere far exceed the pain that must precede the victory.” —Ted W. Engstrom 

Each torturous stride brought me closer to home. Yet after several nights with little sleep and a fried brain, it was all I could do to push myself through my 30-minute wog (walk/jog).

My body screamed fatigue. My mind reasoned that no one would care if I skipped it today. 

But I knew I needed this. And I knew I could do this. 

All I needed to do was take another step. To persevere through the next curb. To make it over the next hill. 

And I did! I finally dragged myself home, weary but better off for the journey. 

My exhausting wogging experience is not unlike how we need to tackle the many twists and turns of our lives.

You Are Not Alone

The need to persevere is universal. It is found in all countries and cultures, without regard to wealth or social status. And it begs to be exercised often. 

Finishing school. Providing food and shelter. Performing at our job–day in and day out. Long nights with sick children. Making a life while battling a chronic illness. Surviving the pain of divorce or the death of a loved one. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Pursuing a calling. 

There are endless opportunities to exercise this attribute. Yet we often find it exceedingly frustrating to implement. In fact, I’ve struggled with this concept to the point I chose it as my 2013 One Word (read about it here). 

I even wrote more about my need to persevere in Be Set Free From the Prison of Fear and What To Do When One Jump Isn’t Enough. 

Growth Occurs in the Process 

The problem is:

We don’t want to persevere; we want to jump right to the end.

We try to accomplish something all at once. Or we try to rise above our suffering before we’re ready. 

But it’s in the process of persevering that growth occurs. With each step, we get stronger. We gain wisdom and understanding. We develop compassion and empathy.

It's in the process of persevering that growth occurs. Click To Tweet

You see, it’s not enough to just reach an end point. The true reward lies in what happens in the heart of the journey.

It's not enough to just reach an end point. The true reward lies in what happens in the heart of the journey. Click To Tweet

Are you finding it difficult to take another step? First, drop to your knees and ask God for His strength. He delights in blessing His children and will see you through. 

Then break your “wog” into smaller chunks. Achieve one small milestone at a time. Before you know it, you’ll have made it home. And the rewards from the journey will be worth every step (even if you don’t immediately recognize it). 

“Therefore, my dear brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58).

Reflections: In what area are you needing to persevere? Have you considered breaking it down into smaller milestones? 

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By His grace ≈

Julie

Linking with Ann Voskamp at A Holy Experience in 2013 with my Joy Dare list  for Multitude Mondays (#1935–1955, read the entire list by clicking here):

• Taking a few minutes out of a hectic day to play on the floor w/ my girl; Perfectly timed rain; Brilliant double rainbow
• Faint sound of guitar strumming drifting in the evening air; Scared by family of raccoons; Being my daughter’s comforter
• Beautiful voice of a catbird–who knew?; Rock piles=makeshift playgrounds; Brother/sister antics
• Defying the rain by playing right up until the 1st drops hit; Diagnosis for Joey’s illness-at least we know; Small steps
• Evening cloud/sun battle=gorgeous display; Sun dappling through the leaves; Understanding & caring son
• Warm sweatshirt on a cold day; A blunder-forgiving, mess-straightening God; A Zach-smile (not too embarassing I hope)
• Gentle drone of bees in the garden; God’s color palette; Taking advantage of a cool night for s’mores around a campfire

Also linking with the following wonderful site: