“We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going.”2 Corinthians 4:9 (TLB)
If you’ve ever been at a race, you’ve probably heard spectators shout, “Keep going!” to motivate the athletes. That’s also great advice for anyone who feels emotionally, mentally, or spiritually exhausted from running the marathon of life: Keep going!
Scripture includes many examples of people who had determination to keep goingin the face of opposition, including Jesus and Paul.
Jesus faced constant opposition. Religious and political leaders tried to intimidate him. They repeatedly tried to stop him from teaching and helping people. At one point, they even warned him that King Herod wanted to kill him.
But Jesus said to them, “Go tell that fox that I will keep on casting out demons and healing people today and tomorrow; and the third day I will accomplish my purpose. Yes, today, tomorrow, and the next day I must proceed on my way” (Luke 13:32-33 NLT).
Nothing was going to stop Jesus from accomplishing his purposes—not fear, opposition, or criticism. He was resilient and had the endurance to keep on keeping on.
Paul also faced obstacles that threatened to slow him down. In the Living Bible paraphrase, he said, “We are pressed on every side by troubles, but not crushed and broken. We are perplexed because we don't know why things happen as they do, but we don't give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9).
Maybe that sounds familiar, because you feel like troubles are coming at you from every direction. You’re tired and worn out, and you don’t think you’ll make it to the finish line.
How do you keep going? You get the power to keep going from the same place Jesus and Paul did: God.
The Message paraphrase says, “We can only keep on going, after all, by the power of God, who first saved us and then called us to this holy work” (2 Timothy 1:8-9).
God doesn’t expect you to fulfill your purpose and do his will in your own power. First, he saves you, and then he gives you the power for daily living. He will give you everything you need to keep going and finish what he has called you to do.
Rick Warren is an innovative pastor, renowned author, and global influencer known for founding Saddleback Church, the Purpose Driven Network, the PEACE Plan, and Hope for Mental Health. He has written several best-selling books, including The Purpose Driven Life, which has sold over 35 million copies in 200 languages. Time magazine named Warren the most influential spiritual leader in America and one of the 100 most influential people in the world. Since stepping down from the lead pastor role at Saddleback in 2022, Warren has continued to inspire people through his Daily Hope Devotional and podcast Pastor Rick’s Daily Hope. His first book in a decade, Created to Dream, was released in April 2023.
For more Daily Hope with Rick Warren, please visit pastorrick.com!
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