How to Persevere



(I am away on travel. I hope you enjoy this article from the past.)

A record breaking, long-distance swimmer, she slipped into the water from the shore of the Catalina Islands intent on setting another mark. Her target was to be the first to swim all the way to the coast of California. She was strong, trained and confident; flanked by a team of safety boats prepared to offer protection should a shark come near or she was injured. She made steady progress for fifteen grueling hours, until a thick fog set in. The inability to see what lay ahead, combined with her exhaustion, caused doubt to creep in. Yet, with encouragement from her mother, riding in one of the boats, she pressed on for another full hour until finally she asked to be pulled from the water. Without her vision, she was convinced she was too far away to achieve the goal. What she found, as she sat in the boat, was that she was just one mile short of her intended destination.

Like Florence Chadwick in 1956, we, too, will experience unforeseen difficulties and setbacks along our way.  When we lose our vision, it’s easy to fall prey to inner doubts. Perseverance- the resolve to press on toward the goal- is the power that fuels victory.  So how can we access it when challenges arise?

1.      Prepare in Advance. Florence didn’t just decide one day she could swim long distances. She developed her stamina, nourished her health and practiced daily. As believers we need to do the same. Nourish your body with healthy living but more importantly nourish your soul with daily time in the Word and personal communion with God. A heart invested with scripture, in strong relationship with the Creator, is able to push through adversity.

2.     Surround yourself with a support group. When she took to the ocean, Florence was flanked by safety boats and loved ones to watch over her and encourage her. God didn’t intend us to walk through life alone. While it’s easy to withdraw from people when challenges strike, it isn’t wise to do so. Florence was able to swim a full hour longer than she thought because of the encouragement she received from her mother. The encouragement of Christian friends and family can help you press on past where you would alone.

3.     Trust the path you are on- What Florence lacked at the end was vision. In life, there are often times when we cannot see with our own eyes. Florence had only herself to rely upon. But as believers, we need not rely on our own vision; we can rely-especially in the midst of difficulties and loss we can’t understand- on God’s perfect vision. Even when you can’t see the next step, as long as you remain on God’s path, you can be certain of making it safely through. God watches over you and nothing can cloud His view.  

Message for the Journey:
Don’t give up when you are unable to see the shore. Trust that God will see you safely to the other side. While we are unable to see, because the fog of humanity clouds our vision, God sees all things. Whatever difficulty you’re facing, persevere—press on in faith. He will see you through. 

Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.  Hebrews 10:36

©AnnWilds

Having Problems With Reception?



(I am off-line due to travel. I hope you enjoy this article from the past.)

     Have you ever been in a drive-thru when you just couldn’t understand what the voice on the other end was saying? When it happens to me, I feel as if I’ve stumbled into a Charlie Brown television special where the only sound from the teacher is “wah, wah, wah”.  Reception problems aren’t limited to fast-food restaurants, the other morning my favorite radio show was plagued with a similar one. 

     Once in the car, I turned on the radio ready for my commute to the office. I expected to hear the usual program but the speaker’s voice kept breaking up; at times crystal clear then unexpectedly garbled. The reception normally was strong but today it was anything but. Being a problem-solver, I began to consider what the trouble could be. 

     I checked to see that the tuner was on the right number, it was; no one had accidentally changed the setting. I switched to another station and found them coming in perfectly; nothing was wrong with the car’s antenna. Maybe there was something breaking up the signal, but there weren’t any new transmitters in the area. The weather was clear and the quality didn’t change no matter where I traveled. So that left equipment problems at the radio station. I couldn’t do anything to help that, so I gave up and plugged in my iPod. 

     I reflected on that experience and realized how much it had in common with my communication with God. Are there times in my life where I’m not hearing from Him, not because He isn’t talking to me, but because of frequency interference? The answer came back a resounding yes.

Tuner off station
    There have been times when I allowed my tuner to get off station. I tuned in to my career, a relationship, or worldly success instead of tuning my life to God. When He is not first in my life it is very easy to simply not hear Him.

You shall have no other gods before me. Exodus 20:3

Antenna weakness
    At other times, I’ve had spiritual ADD. I allow myself to be distracted by the busyness of life, by entertainment or just by myself, and don’t fully listen. I read the Bible without thinking about what I am reading. My prayers become text messages instead of real communications. There is little quality in my time with the Lord. To have a rich relationship with Him I must be fully present.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. Mark 12:30

 Interference in the airwaves:   
    Sin, when not confessed, blocks my relationship with the Father. It causes interference in the ability to be close with Him. When I stumble and sin, I place static in the airwaves. When I confess it fully and repent, the airwaves are cleaned permitting crystal clear communion with Him once again.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness 1 John 1:9

Equipment failure
It is impossible for God to fail. If we are missing out on Him it is because we have moved. He never leaves us. There may be times when God appears to be silent, but nevertheless, He is always in communication with us.
  • He communicates to us through all of creation. Psalms 19: 1-3 says “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.”
  • He communicates to us through His Word. Psalm 119:105 tells us that “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”
  • He communicates to us through the Holy Spirit. Jesus tells us in John 14:26 “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

Love never fails 1 Corinthians 13:8

     How’s your reception today?  If you are experiencing difficulty hearing from God, become a problem-solver. Identify the source and make the necessary adjustment. God’s message for you can once again become crystal-clear. 


©AnnWilds