The Power Of Persistence Send To Printer | Close Window

By Jeremy White, RestoreHope Consulting

As we begin a new year and there are many things perhaps on our resolution lists, I would suggest for organizational leaders of ministries that you place persistence on your list. While there are many important actions and strategies that you no doubt will engage upon this year to support your ministry, sometimes it is not the organizational dynamics, grant-writing or curriculum that will determine the success of your organization.

Often, whether we succeed or fail is directly correlated to our effort and perspective on the challenges we may face. Sometimes reaching our objectives is either reliant upon the amount of determination one possesses or the power of one’s persistence.

The needs of those returning from prison into our communities may seem overwhelming at times and your best efforts may frequently appear to be in vain. When funding dries up and grant proposals are rejected, your calling my be sure but your will power may falter. It is at these times that you need to muster the persistent power of the woman in the Bible who struggled with the issue of blood. Given an opportunity, she made up in her mind throughout the throng of the crowd to “just touch his garment” with the faith that she would be made well. Surely she had feelings of inadequacy and doubt. Nevertheless, she pressed her way forward to touch Jesus and receive her deliverance.

Two principles were at play in the resolution of her situation. First was the issue of her faith. She had to believe that touching Jesus could heal her. Without a strong faith, she would not have had the motivation to make her way though the crowd. Indeed Jesus said to her “Daughter your faith has made you well.”(Mark 5:34) No matter what challenges confront you as a leader or your ministry, you have to believe that God is in control and that the resources you need to fulfill your mission will be made available to you.

Secondly, while faith is essential, we also must possess the persistence to push our way though our challenges. Had the woman not actually made it to Jesus, she would not have received her blessing. While patience is certainly a virtue, sometimes it is persistence that wins the day. Sometimes it pays to not take no for an answer and be persistent in pursuing funding opportunities, or addressing organizational crises, almost to the point of absolute resolve. The woman had made up in her mind that she was going to get to Jesus and wouldn’t accept anything less.

When your faith is emboldened by your persistence, you have the strength needed to overcome any situation that might arise this year and in the years to come.

Jeremy White is the Founder and President of RestoreHope Consulting, which was established to address the on-going organizational needs of community helpers and healers and in so doing to restore some of the hope that been lost in communities around the country.