Press On.

“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethen, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12-14 NKJV

Paul wrote these words after being a believer for nearly 25 years. He is known as one of the strongest believers in the Bible. Paul recklessly pursued the heart of God for that time and still considered himself not “there.” But he pressed on, regardless. Which makes me reflect on my own journey and ask, am I going through the trials of life and choosing to press on?

At 25, I’m in that part of life where we aren’t entirely sure where we should be. Half of my friends are married and building families, the other half are single and building their own lives. None of our paths look similar….yet our mindsets might be. Why is it that though we each have our own journey, we think we should share the same goals and visions? This is the same in our spiritual walks. You may have been called to preach, you may have been called to worship, you may have been called to bear witness to one of the greatest life transformations that is knowing Christ Jesus. Run your own race. You are going to face trials; you are going to face rejection, roadblocks, and hurt. Just keep going. James 1: 2-3 tells us that we should joy when we face trials because they produce perseverance. You don’t have to have everything figured out to continue forward. Just press on.

As I’m still barely a month into 25, I’ll reflect on 24. I dealt with healing from a major heartbreak, and that comeback process was very challenging for me. For those who have experienced this kind of pain, people aren’t always our source to go to, because we have been hurt by people. However, one of my convictions early in the year was to connect with people. & not just any people, those who shared my innermost desires of my faith. Though I was facing one of the hardest things I’ve ever dealt with, I couldn’t just give up. I had to run my race, regardless of stumbling and falling. I had to press on. My connect group forever changed my life from the moment I walked in and my leader said “you are welcome here and you are so loved already.” God was using people to bring me closer to Him. My journey to learn to love again begins and ends with Him, but He used (and continues to use) the hearts of these women to show me how to move forward. & with that, how to move forward in love again. Not just romantic love, but love for all I come in contact with. We’re called to love others – John 13:34 reminds of us of this, along with so many other verses in scripture. Had I not continued to press on through the pain I may missed that. Have I perfected the art of love and healing? Absolutely not. Have I been called to move past pain and continue to press toward love for others? Absolutely.

Just because we’ve been hurt, doesn’t mean we stop doing life. You have to find the strength and courage to press on. Ultimately, that only can come from Christ. He gives us the strength and endurance to continue to run the race. At this point in my life for me, and many others, its learning to trust in love regardless of past hurt. It’s forgetting what is behind, and straining towards what is ahead. If you stay in the past you’ll miss out on all the beautiful things He has waiting for you. You will constantly endure the things of this world, but remember, we are not of the world (John 17:16) and we have more beautiful things always ahead.

“There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.” C.S. Lewis

Regardless of where you are right now, you can have this hope in Christ that your future has such beauty in it. You may not have accomplished that dream you thought you would by now, but press on. You may have had setback after setback, but press on. You may have been rejected, but press on. Each of these moments will lead you to exactly where you need to be.

Paul may not have been where he wanted to be, but he continued on anyway. He knew that the prize of Christ was worth any trial during the race of his life. My hope and prayer is that when we go through times of darkness, we look to the One who is light. Your past does not define you when your future is in Christ Jesus. Press on towards the goal which is union with Him. Everything is made beautiful in its time.