What does perseverance mean to you?

Today, I had the kind of strength that’s surprising. I was able to move my body in ways I didn’t dream I’d ever be able to again when I was in the early stages of CRPS two years ago.

I took a yoga class. And it was AWESOME. My dancer body has been so craving this kind of movement, and my body just wouldn't do it. I couldn't come close. The pain kept me so restricted.

But today, I felt free. It was amazing. I felt like I could keep moving forever.

But it’s not our strength that defines perseverance. I think perseverance looks a lot more like the ability to keep on taking the next step and trusting God to hold you up. The kind of trust that lets you walk on water, staring straight at Jesus, knowing that He is the source of your strength.

" …he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong," (2 Corinthians 12:8-10).

So, today I may have been able to feel great, accomplish a lot, move freely. But I’m not promised that kind of strength. And maybe, tomorrow, I’ll be off my feet again. Because life is unpredictable.

I can’t rely on my own strength. I need to fix my eyes on Jesus for my next brave, persevering step. Whether it’s an easy, freeing step and I feel like I’m walking on air, or even if it’s a painful, scary step that feels like I’m walking through fire.

His grace is sufficient for me.  His power is made perfect in my weakness.  And weakness is beautiful because it keeps me keenly aware of how much I need Jesus.

He’s my strength.

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance," (James 1:2-3).  So, "... let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross..." (Hebrews 12:1-2).
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What’s your next brave step?

• Maybe you need to give something up or re-prioritize.
• Maybe you need to have a difficult conversation.
• Maybe you need to rejoice in the mundane of your day.
• Maybe you need patience for the next hours with your little ones.
• Maybe you need to take that risk or put in that extra work it would take to reach a dream.
• Maybe you need to keep fighting through pain.
• Maybe you need to step into rest in Christ and stop striving for your own way.
• Maybe you need to memorize a verse to help you keep your eyes on the Truth.
• Maybe you need to believe that God is who He says He is and that He delights in you the way He says He does.

Can you step out, even if it’s painful, even if you can’t see what’s next? Can you trust that Jesus will be all you need and that He’ll lead you through?

“The Lord makes firm the steps
    of the one who delights in him;
though he may stumble, he will not fall,
    for the Lord upholds him with his hand,” (Psalm 37:23-24).

Memorizing God's Word has been a HUGE source of His strength in me on this long, hard journey. When His Word is hidden in my heart, it's available to me wherever I go, and He's constantly bringing it to the forefront of my mind.

I just released a new Scripture Memory Journal called, Hidden. It walks you through Scripture memory techniques that have helped me memorize, whether I'm wanting to remember a single verse or even an entire book of the Bible.

Let's press on in perseverance with God's Word hidden in our hearts.

You can find out more at ToChooseJoy.com/hidden.