This unglamorous component of living for God may disappoint those hoping to do it by means of skill, charisma and intelligence alone. Those who persevere, who doggedly pursue after God and His ways, are more likely to reach their goal than those sprinting along in relience on their natural abilities. The Christian walk is not for sprinters. Histoy has demonstrated that the most notable winners usually encountered heartbreaking obstacles before they triumphed. They finally won because they refused to become discouraged by their defeats.
Failure comes easily to everyone, but the price of success is perseverance.
Jacob wrestled all night with an angel before he became Israel, a prince with God. Abraham waited one hundred years before he recieved Isaac, the child of promise. The poeple of Judah waited and struggled 70 years in captivity before God brought them home.