Courage 2 Continue

When I began writing, the quote that was constantly on my mind was about courage. It is often attributed to Winston Churchill, but we don't actually know who said it (just in case, I always cite it as a Churchill quote). This quote says, "Success is not final, failure is not fatal, it is the courage to continue that counts". Once upon a time, I didn't think continuing took any courage. But as life got harder and I began to face new struggles, I realized more and more how true this quote was. Life is full of victories that, as sweet as they may be, quickly fade away. The world also throws a lot of failures at us that we have to walk through, yet even those aren't fatal. Ultimately, through highs and lows, all we can do is continue walking forward, taking each step in faith. 

Albert Einstein explains it when he said, “life is like riding a bike, you have to keep moving forward.” Moving forward takes putting the past behind you, trusting in a good ending to the story, and conquering the stumbling blocks in your path. Being courageous often only means plodding ahead, step by step, day by day. There are rough spots in everyone’s life, some last longer than others. I know what it’s like to be hit by trials that I thought would defeat me. I know the pain of heartache, the frustration of a thousand tears, the loneliness that accompanies rejection, the hurt that comes with healing. I’ve felt it all. I know you have too. So I am writing these words to give you courage. The greatest lie darkness tells is that we are alone. My friend, you are not alone. Not only that, but you’re not hopeless either. If you’re still alive and breathing, praise the Lord. 

Even hard times serve their purpose. Sometimes we have to realize how dark the darkness is to appreciate how bright the light is. Because there is always a light. Always a hope. And the courage it takes to see that and strive for it is what counts. I named my blog Courage 2 Continue because that’s what I want these words to give people. Keep walking. I know it’s hard and it takes courage, but I also know that you are stronger than you could ever imagine. After all the success fades and the dark times pass you will see that continuing to move forward was worth it.