Persist: To continue to do something or try to do something even though it is difficult or other people want you to stop; to continue to occur or exist beyond the usual, expected, or normal time.
One great life lesson I've learned is that you can't get to second base with your foot on first. There are 11 months left of 2017 and I'm praying before every decision and giving my best with every move. I've already learned from mistakes I have made in January, and now I am pressing forward to do the best I can with what I have and all that God has called ME to do. I'm still second-guessed by others and considered irresponsible because I choose to take risks. But I refuse to listen to the naysayers. I have courage to know that being uncommon is ok [Look at Joseph (Genesis 37-50)], and I know that faith without works is dead (James 2:14-26)!
Keep pushing! When you fail or come up short, or when you are criticized, persecuted, rejected, mistreated and over-looked how do you handle it? Do you sit in it under a masquerade, pretending you're ok, but really you're not? Do you put up a front or a false form of strength to hide it? Do you dwell on it over and over and make others feel lesser than what you feel only to boost your battered down ego? How we respond to our troubles has a strong impact on what the outcome may be.
'Do I quit because it hurts, or do I persist?' If diamonds could speak they'd probably say, "pressure doesn't feel good to us neither, but what comes afterwards makes it all worth it." In spite of adversity, push. In spite of failing, persist. Adversity isn't meant for the weak one, it's meant for making the persistent one stronger. Failing does not make one a failure, making excuses to quit and giving up makes one a failure. Do what you're here to do and while you're at it, give it all you got (James 4:17)!
Scripture: "So we have many people of faith around us. Their lives tell us what faith means. So let us run the race that is before us and never give up. We should remove from our lives anything that would get in the way. And we should remove the sin that so easily catches us. Let us look only to Jesus. He is the one who began our faith, and he makes our faith perfect. Jesus suffered death on the cross. But he accepted the shame of the cross as if it were nothing. He did this because of the joy that God put before him. And he is sitting at the right side of God's throne. Think about Jesus. He held on patiently while sinful men were doing evil things against him. Look at Jesus' example so that you will not get tired and stop trying." - Hebrews 12:1-3