Keep Pushing

Have you ever noticed how the first part of a workout feels easy, almost effortless? For me, it’s like that with push-ups. At the beginning, I feel strong. But when I get to the last two or three, that’s when the struggle kicks in. My arms are shaking, my mind is telling me, “Stop. This is painful. You can’t go any further.”

But here’s the truth: those last painful ones are the ones that make me stronger. The discomfort and pressure are temporary, but the results—the strength, the growth—last for a long time.

Life works the same way. The breakthrough rarely comes at a time when everything feels comfortable. It comes when you press through the pain, when you keep going even though it hurts. That’s the moment when God is stretching you, enlarging your capacity, preparing you for the next level of your journey.

The Scripture tells us in James 1:3, “The testing of your faith produces perseverance.” Perseverance doesn’t grow in times of ease. It’s built when you refuse to quit in the middle. It’s when you’re tired, but you keep showing up. When you’re discouraged, but you still pray. When you feel like giving up, but you push one more time, believe one more time, forgive one more time.

Friends, don’t stop at the point of pain. Don’t walk away when it gets uncomfortable. That’s not the end—that’s where growth begins. The enemy will try to convince you that the struggle is permanent, that it will always feel this way. But God is saying to you today: “Keep pressing. Keep pushing. I am building your strength. I am preparing you for greater things.”

Maybe you feel like you’re in the “last few push-ups” of your marriage, or your career, or your dream. It’s uncomfortable. You don’t see the results yet. But if you stay in the fight, if you keep your faith alive, those temporary struggles will produce lasting strength.

So the next time life feels heavy, the next time your mind whispers, “Stop, this hurts,” remind yourself: this pain is temporary, but the strength I am gaining will last a lifetime. And when you push through, when you refuse to quit, you will come out stronger, wiser, and ready for the new levels God has already prepared for you.