We all want to succeed in life. It’s always good to experience success; however, the world’s definitions of success and failure are backward. Often, the difference between the two isn’t intelligence or book learning, but our willingness to keep going. When we persist and persevere even when things don’t look good, we may be pleasantly surprised with the end results.

Talent or intellectual aptitude only take a person so far. It’s good to be talented and smart, but we’ve all heard about talented people who fizzle out because they don’t want to put in the hard work required to reach their goal. We make a real difference when we push forward despite disappointments and setbacks. The Holy Spirit helps us persevere. Perseverance involves the godly trait of patience; we see this in Abraham when he continued to move forward despite great adversity. “And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise” (Hebrews 6:15).

Patience can be defined as being constantly, consistently the same in all circumstances. Unwavering perseverance is never easy, but it’s encouraged on the natural level; on the spiritual level, it’s even more important. “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him” (James 1:12). Without a solid commitment we can believe in, persisting in something is difficult. To get what we want out of life—to receive God’s promises—we need to endure when we’re tempted to quit.

We make progress in life by continuing to move forward despite the pressure to cave in and give up. It doesn’t matter how much book learning we’ve acquired or how much money we have; the deciding factor is finding the courage in us to persevere. This is what pleases God. “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).

At some point, everyone has felt so discouraged they considered throwing in the towel. This is the exact time when we need to keep moving forward on our Christian journey. The times that seem the most hopeless are the times when breakthrough may be just around the corner. Confidently enduring and persevering is possible when we’re confident about what God has said. “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise” (Hebrews 10:35, 36).

God always rewards persistence in doing the right thing, even if the initial cost is great. There’s bound to be external pushback and resistance when we’re following His lead. We can expect the path to be rocky and steep at times, but we mustn’t lose heart. “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9, NIV). Whether we cave in or keep going indicates our level of spiritual maturity.

We don’t have to persist and persevere all alone; we’re actually unable to do so without God’s help. Asking for His intervention gives us the strength we need to succeed. When the going gets tough, trusting in God’s Word keeps us going.