Faithful pastors don’t give up at the first sign of difficulty. They keep on keeping on. 

Faithful pastors are determined, diligent, and persistent. They don’t know how to quit. 

You know how a little acorn becomes an oak tree? 

An oak tree is just an acorn that refused to give up.

It’s always too soon to give up.

God uses tough times to test our persistence.

In fact, Saddleback Church went 15 years without a building. In the first 13 years, the church used 79 different facilities. 

You know how many times Pastor Rick felt like giving up? Nearly every Monday morning! 

But God said to him, “Rick, if I never give the church a building, would you still serve me?” And he said, “Absolutely!”

Saddleback grew to more than 10,000 people before it got its first building. How would you like to set up and take down a church for 10,000 people every week? There’s not a lot of glory in that. It’s just hard work. 

If you and your church are going through tough times right now, then this Scripture is for you: “That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!” (2 Corinthians 4:16-17 NLT).

God is more interested in what you’re becoming than in what’s happening to you.

He often allows trials, troubles, tribulations, and problems in your life to teach you diligence, determination, and character. 

The problem you’re going through right now is a test of your faithfulness.

Will you continue to serve God even when life is tough?

 “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9 NIV).