‘Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.’ Hebrews 12:1 NIV

Before you were born, God anticipated your arrival and had a specific plan for you. And that plan involves dealing with problems and overcoming obstacles because that’s how character is developed. The mark of a successful person is his or her ability to see problems as opportunities instead of obstacles. And the most important lessons take place not when you celebrate the good times but persevere during the bad ones. Indeed, that’s why the bad times make the good times so good!

If you know anything about the birth of baby giraffes, you’ll know that the first parts to emerge are its front hooves and head. Then the entire calf appears, tumbles three metres to the ground, and lands on its back. Within seconds the baby rolls over and stands, struggling to move those gangly, untried legs. Then sometimes, an amazing thing happens. The mother giraffe positions herself directly over her newborn calf, looks it over, kicks it, and sends it sprawling. If it doesn’t get up—she kicks it again! And when it grows tired of the struggle, she kicks it again to stimulate its effort to stand. In fact, every time the baby manages to get to its feet, the mother kicks it again. Her actions may seem cruel to us, but she’s preparing her child for survival. Unless that little calf learns to get up quickly and run with the herd when danger comes, it won’t survive.

So what’s the lesson here? When life knocks you down—get back up (see Proverbs 24:16). During difficult times you learn some of your greatest life lessons through sheer determination and perseverance.

SoulFood: Gen 32–34, Matt 20:1–16, Ps 70, Pr 6:26–28