Press On

Blessed is the one who endures trials, because when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12

During the five years leading up to the Covid pandemic, I was on a fitness journey that included walking, running, and lots of time in the gym. During this time, I ran several 5ks, 10ks, and half marathons. Unfortunately, since Covid, I have dealt with sciatica, shin splints, and plantar fasciitis and have not been able to run or do much walking for exercise. That is for another devotion. 

The last race that I ran was a Disney challenge that included a 10k one morning, followed by a half marathon the following morning. It was at the end of February 2020. I had spent all fall training, running every other day and conditioning myself. There are so many variables with any race-temps, humidity, health, hydration, and nerves to name a few. Everything seemed to be in line on the morning of the half marathon. I had survived the 10k without any issues, and had a solid start to the half marathon. But, on mile 5, I began to feel a blister forming on the ball of my right foot. I stopped at a first aid tent to get a bandaid or bandage to cover it. That did not work. I tried a couple more times with no luck. By this time, the blister was the size of a half dollar, and I was in severe pain! I simply did not think I could go on to finish. I still had about half the race left. I had quite the mental battle going on as I tried to decide whether to give up and give in or keep going. I had trained too long and hard to give up! I was determined to finish! And, I did. I had to stop running and basically limped my way along. It took much longer than it would have and should have, but I still finished and got my metal!

Running, whether in a race or in a training regimate (or basically anytime), is a practice in perseverance. It is a challenge physically and mentally. Perseverance is the ability to keep going even when things may get hard or challenging. It’s continuing to pursue a goal until it’s reached when obstacles get in the way. In its simplest form, perseverance is the quiet strength to keep moving forward even when the road is hard, the path unclear, or the outcome uncertain. It’s not just about enduring difficult times, but trusting God through them.

Life is not always easy and rosy. It brings challenges through grief, disappointment, unanswered prayers, or prolonged struggles. One of these for me was watching my mom slowly slip away over a 7-year battle with Alzheimer’s. Talking about a struggle! But Scripture consistently reminds us that our trials are not wasted. They are shaping us, refining our character, and drawing us nearer to Christ. 

In James 1:12 above, James tells us that those who persevere are blessed. Why? Because perseverance under trial is evidence of faith in action. It means trusting God even though you may not understand. I trusted God in my mom’s struggle, but I certainly did not understand. And, I have lots of questions when I get to the other side. This kind of faith does not go unnoticed by God. He uses hardship to refine, strengthen, and ultimately reward those who hold fast to Him. The reward is spiritual maturity and experiencing God’s presence now and eternal life to come.

Jesus Himself persevered through pain, rejection, and the cross — not because it was easy, but because of the joy set before Him (Hebrews 12:2), because of His love for us, and because it was His purpose.  We are to follow in His footsteps, strengthened by the same Spirit.

We do not have to be perfect, just faithful. And God promises that we are never alone in our struggles. We may want to give up. We may waver in our walk with Him. We may make poor decisions. When these times of weakness come, His strength carries us. When we stumble, His grace lifts us.

May we fix your eyes on Jesus, run the race with endurance, and finish well.

Call to Action

What trial or slow season are you facing right now? Identify it and ask God to help you not just survive it, but grow through it. Perseverance isn’t passive—it’s active trust.

Take the next step today: Open your Bible; Say the prayer; Speak the truth; Love when it’s hard; Trust when it doesn’t make sense; Share Jesus. 

Digging Deeper

Read these additional verses on perseverance: Romans 5:3, Romans 8:18, Galatians 6:9, Hebrews 12:1, 1 Peter 5:10, Ephesians 6:13. Read about folks in the Bible who persevered: Joseph, Moses, Job, Jeremiah, and Hannah.

Prayer

Lord, give me strength to keep going when things get hard and I want to give up and quit. Help me to trust You and Your timing and continue to walk faithfully, knowing You are with me every step of the way. Amen.

Copyright © 2025 Kyle Cravens