Regina 
“Keep putting one foot in front of the other.” Haven’t we all heard and used a similar sentiment, because the thing about life is that at one point or another it sort of feels like it’s beating the snot out of us. You know exactly what I mean, don’t you? Whether our schedules are overloaded or perhaps relationships are on edge, or maybe we’ve just reached that point where we feel we’ve done all we can do and now we’re done. We’ve gone as hard and as long as we think humanly possible; we’ve reached the end of ourselves. Now our plan is to sit down and just stop. Perseverance has long since slipped out of our vocabulary, and we don’t have the slightest unction to muster anything of the sort up. Have you ever been there? Tired, beaten, and rather fed up.
You know, it’s hard to keep on going when everyone else around you has long since stopped, when as far as you can see the effort you are putting in to whatever it is is just not yielding what you thought. Here’s the thing, you must come to understand you must discipline yourself to go longer than that. You must discipline yourself, from the beginning of a matter, to receive strength from a Source that does not get tired, weary, or give up. We must come to Christ Jesus to receive what human beings just can’t achieve, endurance. Understanding how to persevere in both good times and hard times is a gift from God and many of us lack the diligence to enjoy the fruit that would come if we didn’t stop in the middle of things.
Let me ask you this, because this is where a persevering sort of life begins, have you ever asked the Lord to give you discipline for the purpose of godliness? Have you ever petitioned Him to give you perseverance in your joy as a wife, in your love as a mom, in your faithfulness as a friend?
What we haven’t asked for, we often don’t receive.
What we haven’t begged of God often sits as a gift unopened. Now, to be sure, there are many times we are just graced. We forget to ask for food, and we assume it’s a given. God kindly gives food anyway in some cases. We forget to ask the Lord for shelter and live under the assumption that we have attained these things for ourselves. Truth is, all of it is a gift that has been given and can be taken away.
Sometimes the Lord is looking to teach us and He withholds what He will give if only His child would ask. He wants us to learn to persevere in all things and especially in prayer.
…praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints… Ephesians 6:18
We must go longer here than we did at the first. Spiritual battles aren’t won by earthly means. They are won in heavenly places by the supernatural grace of God. Since our struggle isn’t against flesh and blood there’s no use in harboring unforgiveness toward a boss or a spouse or a friend or a random person that cut you off in traffic, right? Because wars occurring in heavenly places aren’t won by earthly means. We must learn then to persevere even in the places others give up and bow out. We must go longer and lean harder into the Lord.
I don’t know what your life holds at present, whether times are sweet or difficult. I don’t know if by grace the Lord has given every kindness you can fathom or if you feel a bit defeated not even sure how to withstand your present season? In the former case, you must be especially careful. Let not sweet circumstances result in weak faltering discipline for the purpose of godliness, for when the hardships inevitably come and they will come, you will be knocked around silly with so weak a resolve. In the latter circumstance if hardship seems to be your lot at present do not give up and give in, ask the Lord for the courage to go longer, to withstand what you thought might make you fall. The Lord has your hand dear one. These days are difficult and will wind up more difficult still. Hold fast to Christ.
