I was driving home from a meeting one night recently and felt tears forming in my eyes. There was no real reason – just the pressures of life at that time. It caught me unawares really. Perhaps I wasn’t coping with things as well as I thought?

You recall those times, don’t you? You’re managing everything that comes your way without getting upset, dealing with unforeseen problems with a cool head, sticking to the schedule, and then it happens … you reach the point where you become acutely aware of how exhausted you are – physically, emotionally and even spiritually.

I guess that was me that night. I decided that driving while crying was not a good idea, so I prayed. God responded with just one word.

Persevere.

It was His kind reprimand. My one word for this year is persevere. I find myself thinking about it constantly now in very specific ways.

Through the challenging days that drag on for too long … persevere.

In holding on to optimism despite it appearing that others have given up … persevere.

Continue to follow Jesus, particularly when I am aware that I am being attacked spiritually … persevere

Even when giving up seems simpler … persevere.