When It Hurts to Keep Going

Read

James 1:12 “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”

Think

There’s a moment in every long run when your legs are screaming, your lungs are on fire, and your brain starts offering really convincing arguments to quit. The pain feels personal. The struggle feels pointless.

But here’s what runners know: the breakthrough is almost always just past the burn.

James writes about perseverance not as a personality trait, but as a spiritual decision. Not gritting your teeth to survive but trusting the Lord to sustain. Because pain doesn’t mean you’re off track—it often means you’re right where growth is happening.

The word perseveres in Greek (hypomenō) literally means “to remain under.” To stay with it. To hold steady. It doesn’t sound glamorous, and it rarely feels heroic. But that kind of staying power—that soul-level refusal to give up—leads to life.

And not just getting through life but receiving life. James says there’s a crown on the other side. Not just a reward for finishing—but joy, wholeness, and presence. The kind of life the world can’t give, and pain can’t steal.

This isn’t about faking strength or hiding the hurt. It’s about trusting that even when the run is hard, the Lord is with you. Shaping you. Strengthening you. Steadying you. Perseverance doesn’t mean pretending it doesn’t hurt. It means believing it’s still worth it.

Apply

Where do you feel worn down or tempted to quit? Maybe it’s something spiritual, relational, emotional, or deeply personal. Bring that place honestly before the Lord today. Then ask him for fresh strength—not to sprint, but to stay. To remain. To trust that breakthrough often hides right behind the hard.

Pray

Lord, you see the parts of me that are tired. You know where I’m hurting, where I’m doubting, and where I want to give up. Give me your strength to stay with what you’ve called me to. Help me persevere—not to prove something, but to know you more deeply. Shape my faith through the pain, and remind me that your promises are still true. In Jesus’ name. Amen.