My friend Larry Roberts recently said to me, “some successes come hard.”
It hit me hard. I have lived a charmed life. More things have gone right for me than wrong. But when things have gone wrong they have really gone full tilt down hill. I have friends who move any time they experience prolonged resistance. But they seem to always miss out on the pay-offs by living that way.
I have learned a few things about persevering:
- One, count the cost before you start. Everything including church planting or church turn-arounds always takes more money, energy, tears and pain than you can anticipate. It’s best to work through the real risk and likelihood of pain before you start.
- Two, get some partners. I don’t know many people who can prevail without a partner in their projects. I have noted when I have found the courage to keep moving on it has been when I had a set of or one close partner in the project. You need leaders who cheer one another on. I wouldn’t try anything any longer without a partner. I have tried often and have collapsed from fatigue.
- Three, feed the vision, aims and goals. Talk about them, write about them, pray about them. Keep the finish line ever before you. Remind yourself what the pay offs will be when you cross the line.
- Four, remember no one can build a church. Church is a miracle. No human can pull all the factors necessary together to be a success. So let him succeed at building his own house. Define your role and leave it at that.
I go back to these points often. They pay off. I hope you can find the provision to press on when the times look lack luster or frightening
