In the past to prepare for the New Year I would recall negative and positive experiences, mistakes made and lessons learned. Then, I would make a list of all the “new things” I wanted to do or change that would ensure that my New Year would be trouble free, stress free, just wonderfully amazing! Silly, right? Makes a little more sense why only maybe 20% of that long list actually worked out to be amazing.
Well today, God had a message for me. A message that would again convict me to remember that everything with God is amazing, however not necessarily easy. My pastor told us to open our Bible and turn to this verse, “Not that I have already obtained all of this, or have I already arrived at my goal, but I PRESS ON to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me…I PRESS ON toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:12-14 NIV) I think it’s easier to remember to leave what’s behind and look towards what’s ahead. But, what about the PRESS ON part? Do we remember to press on?
My pastor shared with us a definition of the word “Press” as a maximum, sustainable effort. The years 2016 and 2017 were some difficult years, faced with business opportunities that didn’t work, some financial loss, the death of my father, and close relationships crumbling apart before my eyes. It all felt like a giant ball of grief that I was carrying on my back while running around in circles desperately trying to find a way out. I grew tired, I grew angry, and I couldn’t sustain any more effort. A part of me thought it would be easier if I just let myself be depressed again. It would be easier to just give up everything. A part of me didn’t want to PRESS ON anymore.
But, God told me to be still, because He’s created a new thing IN me. He reminded me of the Love of Jesus and my salvation. He told me to rest and bring my burdens to Him. I don’t have to run around in circles anymore. My way out was Jesus Himself. I can focus on only the negative things that happened, or I can remember that once again, Jesus saved me from staying in a pit of despair. In the midst of the difficulties, I have found a lot of joy in focusing on Jesus, a lot of blessings and growth in my family, a lot of chances to nurture the relationships I have now.
Jesus met me at my lowest valley and now He’s inviting me to PRESS ON! To climb the highest mountain alongside Him, learn from Him, mature for Him, and FINISH the plans and purpose He has for me. He’s telling me to commit to this! Not all those other random “new things” I would list down. On New Years and every day of the year there should be a commitment to stay with Him when things get difficult.
I can’t say it any better than my pastor. He said, “You’ve come too far. You’ve pressed too hard to come to the point where you say, ‘this is good enough’. PRESS ON. Push forward. There’s much more that God deposited on the inside of you that He wants to draw out of you.” When I’m literally or figuratively climbing and hiking up a mountain during my mission trip, will I give up? No, I can’t. I’m choosing to PRESS ON, because the Glory of God is worth every effort.
