“Fight to Press On”
God’s strength carries us forward when we feel we can’t go on
Have you ever felt like the weight of your journey was too much to carry? I remember one day while I was in my car just getting off work and crying, questioning my purpose and feeling fatigued because I could visually see this version of myself that I was trying to achieve and become, but instead of giving in, I cried out to God–choosing to view the pain as God’s refining fire. The pain has a purpose, and because I cried, it reflects that I still care, which I learned from my bishop in his teaching. There are some days when I honestly am just praying to get through the day. Trying to figure out my next move. It can be frustrating when I see the vision but still have to push through the process of getting to the place I see myself. When I struggle with moments like these, I have to remind myself that it’s not about rushing to get to the destination but embracing the process as I go. I consider these moments to be the waiting season as we look to God and trust the next steps that He has for us–but in the waiting, I have to reflect.. Am I prepared to move? Am I ready to step forward in faith? If God were to call me right now with the open door that I have been praying for, will I be able to walk through it?
It’s important to still do our part while we're still positioned and believing in God to make the move. Sometimes we might not be fully ready, and God is waiting on us to make the first step and have faith, but He will provide and direct as we go. I can grow tired of feeling lost without any direction, but we should encourage ourselves along the way and press on. In Philippians 3: 12-14 says, “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” We will press towards the goal and walk fully into what God has for us. Even when we get tired and lose motivation, we fight on, because we understand and know that there is a call and purpose for our lives. The next time you might feel discouraged, trying to figure out what’s next, or feel stuck, let this be a reminder for you to keep pressing forward.
Oftentimes, we feel behind or that life is on pause because of what we see around us or what others are doing, but that can lead to comparison. We must embrace the fact that we are on a path specifically created and designed by God just for us. We aren’t on our timeline but on His. I have to pick myself back up sometimes and remember that when my mind gets wrapped up in other things, it’s in the waiting that God moves unexpectedly, which is more reason to continue fighting to press forward.
