The other day, I was talking with my roommate and processing through where I was last semester compared to where I am now. Being on the other side of some extremely difficult emotional situations has led me to see aspects of my life that I previously did not see and give me a clearer view of my desires, much more so than a few months ago. As I was verbally processing through my thoughts my roommate stopped and said "Isn't it crazy how you would not have been able to say any of those statements a few months ago?" When she said that I stopped in my tracks, and thought to myself how true that is. Later that day I looked down at my new giving key to see the phrase "Press On" in all caps, and reflected on how important that phrase has been for me in the past few months.

In the midst of trial, it can be so easy to feel like you should give up, there is no use in trying, there's nothing that you can do. You feel stuck in place. You see where you want to be but wonder how in the world you're ever going to get there, because you can't seem to move from this awful spot that you're in no matter how hard you try. It can be so easy to lose hope, and just assume that there's no light at the end of the tunnel for you.

As I was in the midst of feeling stuck, I came across this passage:

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14

As I read this, the phrase press on ran through my head over and over, I couldn't get it out of my mind. This idea of continuing, pushing forward, no matter the circumstances you may be facing at this moment. I can give up, or I can keep pushing, knowing that my life is not in my feeble human hands, but in the strong and loving hands of God.

It can be so easy to look in front of you and see how much farther you have to go. When you feel like you're stuck, take a look backward and see just how far you've come. You're not where you want to be, but you're not where you were. I would encourage you, if you are feeling stuck, to see how far you've come already. Then I encourage you to press on my friend. And remember that the gift God has for you is so much greater than anything you could ever obtain on this earth.

PRESS ON.