PERSISTENCE IS THE KEY

We all want to be successful or at least win the game of life. You have the talent, skill and what it takes to win. You have attempted to hone down your skills through the acquisition of knowledge so that you are at the cutting edge in your field of endeavor.

What is it that stops most people from finishing the race and finishing it well? What is it that stops many a person from crossing the finish line?

The answer lies in the fact that many quit too soon. Some quit when they are about to reach the goal. Had they just waited for one extra day, week, month, or year they would have realized the dream.

Life has many challenges and these challenges are a test of our capacity to hold on and finish strong. At times the Creator wants to be sure that when He finally gives you what you are working hard to get it does not finally destroy you as has been the case for many people. So just as we prepare for promotion in leadership through the school of supervision and leadership development, so God takes us through the school of persistence to prepare us for great things in life. You see. the joy of persistence is that when all is said and done, you would have gone through waiting time which develops character, perseverance, patience, dogged determination and ultimate maturity to handle the vicissitudes of life.

Les Brown, a speaker and writer, said there are three kinds of people. There are winners, who know what they want and understand their potential and the possibilities. These people take life on. Next are the potential losers who don't have a clue as to who they are. They allow circumstances to shape their lives and their self-image. The third group consists of potential winners whose lives are just slightly out of alignment. He called them wayward winners. It may be that they just need to learn how to be real winners or they’ve hit a bump or two that has knocked them off course and they are temporarily thrown off balance. A failed relationship, a lost job, financial problems, unformed goals, a lack of parental support, illness—many things can send us off course temporarily.

Where do you see yourself in the three categories? Once you have identified where you fit you can then develop a strategy to move forward. A writer once said failure is not a person but an event. There will be various challenges in your life journey. You may have tried a number of things and they havenot worked the way you envisaged. That is good, because at least you tried. It is better to do something and fail than do nothing and succeed! You may have lost money in a business deal and decided to say goodbye to business. Just accept to fail forward and remember that each time you fall, you are a step closer to achieving your goal and vision. What is important is to learn from the fall and move on. This takes persistence. Persistence is the belief that it is not over until God says it is over. The only person who has the right to blow the whistle for the game of life to be over is God the creator. He has the final word because He is the only one who knows exactly what He wired you up for and He has the key to your master game plan.

From experience I have learnt that I rather continue to persist while working with the key architect of the master plan. He has the game plan, the blueprint and the sure route to achieving your vision. Try Him because He has never lost a single battle that He has led or distorted any life surrendered to His leadership.

As you follow your dream, passion, vision, goal, or plan, remember that persistence is the key. When you feel tempted to quit or give up, remember you are closer than you think. Hold on and persist.