Develop Persistence

For every obstacle there is a solution. One of the most essential principles for success is persistence - the determination never to allow your energy or enthusiasm to be dampened by the discouragement that must inevitably come. The key to victory is continuing to do the right thing with the right attitude and refusing to quit.

However, too many people limit their possibilities by giving up easily when they meet obstacles. Let me ask you a question: If you could so order your life so as to avoid all types of adversity, how could you develop character? Everyone must cut his or her teeth on some form of experience. It is not the crisis or the adversity that is the problem it is how you react to it which is the problem.

And so often, instead of using the time to learn, regroup and move again, or using our energy to be creative in raising a phoenix out of the ashes of our crisis, we waste time and energy blaming why we are in a situation and how “we don’t deserve this”. The truth is character cannot be made except by a steady, long, continued process— the way to build character is to learn from our lessons in life. 

Only in the crucible of experiences can a depth of character be strengthened. Moreover, you cannot borrow strength as borrowing strength creates weakness. We must acquire strength. That’s why you should develop a healthy attitude toward adversity; it mustn't be avoided or feared; it must be embraced and overcome.

My Story

When I was a teenager, I dreaded the thought of experiencing failure and as a result I developed an unhealthy attitude toward it. Over time, however, I began to experience failure in many areas of my life. And it all started when I was in high school. One after another they kept coming, and it was very tempting to give up. One of the reasons why I didn’t give up was because I knew I could rise to the challenge; I remembered my past victories and this encouraged me to keep pressing forward. 

However, my determination began to falter over time because I got negative results in just about every area of my life; financial hardship, poor grades, stressed out, lost friends, rejected by family, emotionally abused, etc. I must admit that I was hopeless and really didn't see how things could change. The good news is that one area of my life was about to glow—the spiritual area of my life!

What I couldn’t see back then was that these circumstances were divinely orchestrated—God was using them to draw me closer to Him! When I got born again in spirit and received Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, this NEW relationship empowered me spiritually and I began to feel like raising a phoenix out of the ashes of my crisis. Furthermore, as I began to study God’s word daily He encouraged me to continue pressing forward, to never give up, that He was with me and He’ll help me do what I cannot do. To cut a long story short, I made it through those tough times victoriously by God’s grace.

Everyone has stories similar to this; I use mine because the only true way to explain something of this nature is to use your own experience. You may not see the benefits of a crisis until sometime after, but if you look for it and believe it, you’ll see it. 

I want you to know that you can develop persistence, and refuse to give up on anything, regardless of your circumstances, if you allow the Spirit of God to empower you. The key to developing persistence is to know that you are working with God, that He is with you wherever you go, and when you do what you can do, He’ll do what you cannot do. With this truth in mind you can surmount any difficulty and rise to any challenge regardless of their number and/or size. 

“Persistence is to the character of man as carbon is to steel.”

                                                          -- Napoleon Hill

The Bottom Line

To be a success you have to believe in yourself, do what you must do when you should do it, and keep on doing it until you win through. You have to commit yourself to keep going not when it is easy but when it is tough. When the going is really tough; when everything inside you is telling you to give up.

To Your Success,

Gerard L. Ndzebir