Don't Stop, Keep Moving

Life is full of ups and downs, especially when someone is striving to serve the Lord and be productive.  We all desire success!  However, success is largely a matter of trial and error.   One thing that I have discovered is that when striving to be productive, our patience will be tested, as well as our character.   James 1:2 says, “my brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials.”  If you serve the Lord, the enemy will make sure that you will be tried and tested.  Yet your promise is that you are more than a conquer through Christ Jesus our Lord.

People have a tendency to give up way to easy!  Just because discouragement sets in and frustration arise is no sign that we stop pursuing the goals that we desire to reach.  Paul said, “Therefore my dear brothers, stand firm.  Let nothing move you.  Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”  The reality is we can not stop we have to keep moving and there are times when we just simply have to try again.   I read recently that Cicero practiced speaking before his friends for 30 years to perfect his oratorical Bailey.  Bryant rewrote one of his poetic masterpieces 99 times before publication.

The longer that I live, I realize as Christians we will inevitably experience set backs, failures, trials and disappointments.  I have heard many times that great success often results from previous failure.  We learn through failure.  I have always told my children never be afraid of failure.  The only ones that never fail are the ones never doing anything.  When failure happens, our desire needs to be think creatively better ways of doing things.
When the disciples of Jesus failed Him by abandoning Him at His trial, He didn’t reject them.  The Scripture informs us that Jesus restored the disciples to their calling.  These same men are the ones that turned the world upside down.  Failure made them stronger in their faith!  Don’t Stop, Keep Moving!