Last weekend my daughter participated in her seventh breast cancer walk. The previous six walks were with Avon and they were 39.3 miles for two days. This year she walked with Susan G. Komen. The walk was 60 miles over the course of three days. When she told me she was walking 60 miles I asked her how she would be able to walk that far and that long and she simply replied, “perseverance.”

So what is perseverance? To put it in layman’s term, it simply means not giving up. My daughter said she was tired, her feet and legs were hurting, but when she looked at the bigger picture, the people who were depending on her, the people going through breast cancer, the people who lost someone due to breast cancer, and the people who survived breast cancer, her pain didn’t compare, so she persevered.

That is actually how life is. Sometimes we think we have it so hard, our pain is too much to bear, but when you look at the big scheme of things, it is nothing compared to what others are going through. Yes, you may hurt, yes, you may want to give up, but God made us bigger than that. He gave us the ability to persevere through our challenges, to press on through our pain so we can make it to the finish line.

I recently read a story about a young man name Derek Redmond. Derek’s life dream was to not only participate, but win a gold medal at the Olympics. In 1992 at the Barcelona Olympics, he got his chance. Derek was fast off the blocks and was looking strong when suddenly he tore his hamstring. And although he was in excruciating pain, He never gave up, instead he persevered. But the wonderful thing about God is, He knows sometimes we cannot do it alone. When Derek started hobbling down the field, crying and in pain, his father ran out there and wrapped his arms around him and helped him to the finish line.

Derek came in last and was disqualified due to his dad assisting him but when you ask anyone what they remember about the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, it is not the gold medalist, or the silver medalist, it was Derek Redmond, a man who preserved despite the pain, despite already losing, despite seeing his dream coming to an end. He continued to move toward the finish line.

So I say to you, do not give up. God made us bigger and stronger than we could imagine. When times are tough and you feel you can’t endure another step, God always has a ram in the bush.

Revelation 2:10

Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for 10 days. Be faithful, when to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown. Be bless in Jesus’ name.

Mary Simmons can be reached at marysimmons@embarqmail.com.