Perseverance

Perseverance was the theme for Day 4. Perseverance is the quality of continuing to try even though things are difficult. To not give up. To work at something over and over even when you want give up. Jesus told a story about prayer in Luke 18: 1-8. A widow who was seeking justice went to the judge. This judge did not fear God or respect others and sent her away. She came back until the judge decided to give her justice so she would stop bothering him.

What would have happened if the widow had stopped after the first denial? or even the third? She had to persevere-continue to try even with the challenge of the difficult judge. She wanted what was right, justice which is often bigger than one person. She is not asking for a selfish thing but for right. And in the end, due to her persistence, justice is rewarded even though the judge still doesn't care.

We often try things that are hard. Things that we might want to give up on. Things that we won't be good at until we work at it, practice over and over. Perseverance keeps us trying, helps us to get better. If we stopped doing things because they were hard or we weren't good at them the first time, our lives would be smaller. When we persevere, we have feelings of accomplishment that help us to persevere the next time we try something hard(er) or bigger than before.

Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team. Oprah Winfrey was told she would never be a presence in front of the camera. Hard work and perseverance took them to great heights. What great heights await us?