Walking with God can sometimes feel like taking one step forward only to then take three steps back. One day we may achieve a great victory in our spiritual life, only to feel attacked in the same area the very next day. This can leave us wondering whether we are making any progress at all and moving forward. Are the victories we are receiving real and complete? Why is it that sometimes moving forward looks and feels like going backward?

The Purpose of Perseverance

The Bible has much to say on perseverance, and Paul reminds us that there is a purpose in it.

“And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.” – Romans 5:3-4, NKJV

Even while it may be painful and take a lot of effort, perseverance produces character, which ultimately leads to hope. Perseverance isn’t simply to grow us and strengthen us, but to produce an attitude of hope. The hard moments in life can lead us to becoming the most hope-filled people around. This certainly changes our outlook on tribulations. The roughest moments in life are producing an undying hope in us. The darkest moments only make the light of Christ in us shine brighter.

The Blessing in Perseverance

Even in the midst of persevering, there is blessing. James says the following:

“God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.” James 1:12, NLT

In our faith, we can be confident in knowing that our testing holds the promise of a reward. There is blessing promised to us when we persevere, push through and hold fast to our faith. Whenever we are in the middle of a trial or temptation, we can be hopeful in the fact that God has promised a blessing and reward to us when we overcome. This is why we are encouraged to keep moving forward, even when we feel weary. Challenges in Christ are always unto something. He is growing and perfecting us, building hope within, so that one day we may reap a joyful harvest.

“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” – Galatians 6:9, NLT

Keep Your Eyes on the Prize

The key to persevere is keeping our eyes fully focused on Jesus. We need clarity of purpose if we are to keep running, even when we grow weary. There will be days when persevering will feel easy and simple. Other days, we will want to fully give up because we’ve grown weary in our running. But that is why our focus is so important. When you feel like giving up, remember why you are running. More than that, remember to Whom you are running and what you are running towards.

“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.” 1 Corinthians 9:24, NKJV

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” – Hebrews 12:1-2, NKJV

Remember that you are running towards Jesus and you are capable of persevering. If the race feels heavy, ask yourself: Are there any things weighing me down and keeping me from running at my best? If there are, there is no time like the present to place those things in Jesus’ hands.

Jesus persevered to the point of submitting Himself to death, and yet, He set His eyes on the great joy before Him and He endured the cross. He remembered why He was doing it and who He was doing it for. Why are you persevering? Who are you doing it for? Remember, our faith has its ultimate goal in Christ. We are running and persevering because of Him, and ultimately, we are running towards Him.

What About Running on the Wrong Path?

Maybe, just maybe, you’ve made progress only to realize you took the wrong path. What then? Something my dad always says is that God is powerful enough to reroute us. If we took a wrong turn in life, like a GPS, God can correct the mistake and set a new route to get us to our destiny. If you messed up at some point, don’t give up feeling like you are past repair. You’re not. You aren’t powerful enough to mess up God’s plan for your life. But God is powerful enough to set you on the right track, to bring you back, and to keep you on it. I love how C. S. Lewis puts it:

“We all want progress, but if you’re on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; in that case, the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive.” – C. S. Lewis

Remember that the One who called you to walk with Him is faithful to complete the work He began in you.

“Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” – Philippians 1:6, NKJV

If you gained a victory only to feel attacked again in the exact same place, remember you now have strategy, knowledge, and wisdom. You carry victory. If the enemy accuses you of the same thing, you now hold the key of truth to set you free from the lies. Yes, faith may seem slow, and it may look like one step forward and three steps back, but each time you feel pushback you are battling with fresh strength and authority. Set your eyes on the One who called you to run and persevere, one step at a time.