Keep Pressing Toward the Goal

This is the next to last post in my series of when life doesn’t go as you expect, and I wanted to make it on keeping things in perspective – we need to keep pressing toward the goal, no matter what happens.

When hard times come we get off track so easily. But if we can try and remind ourselves of why we’re here and what our focus should be, it can keep us going and stop us from making too many mistakes.

One of my favourite passages in the Bible is Hebrews 12:1-4, great for bringing things into perspective:

Here are some things that I think can help us to press toward the goal:

Keep glorifying God as your aim – as my husband likes to say, our purpose on this earth is to know God, bring glory to God, and bear fruit in his name.  ‘Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.’ 1Co 10:31 Everything we do should be for the glory of God, and when I start worrying, if I remind myself of that it makes it all so much simpler.

Seek God for what he wants you to do – As I mentioned recently, God has a plan, so when unexpected things happen we should seek God for His guidance. His plan is always best! It is also good to remind ourselves of what God has called us to do already.

Look for the way of escape – God always provides a way of escape out of every trial and temptation so that we can stand up under it. But we need to look for it. ‘No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.’ 1Co 10:13

Jeremiah was put in prison, but he didn’t give up hope – he asked the King to let him out, and got his request granted. Maybe your way of escape is to rest more, or to give up a commitment, or to stop doing something that has come before God in your life, or even to stop fighting it and trust God.

Remember trials are temporary – they are only for a season, and God will bring us through.

Remember trials are necessary – to strengthen our faith, and to help us comfort others with what we have learnt.

Look to heaven – this is our ultimate goal, and is always my comfort. When I feel like life is a roundabout and I want to get off, I remember that one day we will be in heaven. Then there will be no more tears, no more pain, no more suffering, no more tiredness. We will see Jesus and be with Him forever and everything will be perfect!

When I was at Creation Fest recently, Brian Brodersen spoke on trials from 1 Peter, and at the end he got Scott Cunningham to come up and sing a song he and his wife have written called, ‘Don’t Give Up’. The words are beautiful and so encouraging. They are written below the video.

You can find the rest of the series on when life doesn’t go as you expect here:
1. Being Prepared For Trials
2. Trust that God has a Plan
3. Hold On to What You Know
4. Prayer Changes Things
5. Take Responsibility
7. 10 Ways to Support Christians in Trouble