Resolution 56Näide

“Resolved, never to give over, nor in the least to slacken my fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be” (Edwards, 1722/1723, Resolution 56).

The final phrase of Resolution 56 addresses what often threatens both perseverance and resolve: discouragement. In saying “however unsuccessful I may be,” Edwards acknowledges the seasons of life where progress feels slow, uneven, or even absent. There will be moments when you look at your life and wonder if anything is actually changing. Edwards anticipates that feeling and makes a decision ahead of time to refuse to let the perceived lack of success determine whether or not to continue the fight.

Your faithfulness is not tied to what you can measure in the moment. This is the perspective presented in Hebrews 12. The Christian life is framed not as a sprint, but as a race requiring endurance (v. 1). You are called to run with perseverance, fixing your eyes on Christ, who endured far more than you ever will (vv. 2–3). And when the struggle with sin feels particularly intense, the author reminds you that you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood (v. 4). These verses are not meant to discourage you or to belittle your struggle, but to reframe your expectations. Growth is often forged through resistance, not ease. Even the discipline of the Lord, which can feel painful in the moment, is producing something deeper and more lasting, a “harvest of righteousness” for those who are trained by it (v. 11). In other words, what feels like failure now may actually be formation.

This truth should steady you when progress feels fleeting. You may not see a dramatic change week to week. You may still find yourself battling familiar sins. But that does not mean God is absent from or inactive in your life. Philippians 3:12–14 reminds you that even Paul did not feel like he had “arrived,” yet he pressed on. James 1:12 speaks of a blessing for the one who endures under trial. And 2 Timothy 4:7 reflects on a life of faithfulness, not flawlessness.

Yes, your progress may be slow and uneven, but endurance itself is victory in motion. God’s work is often quieter than you expect, but no less real.

Lord, when I feel discouraged by what seems like a lack of progress, keep me from losing heart. Help me to trust that You are at work even when I cannot clearly see it. Strengthen me to endure, to keep pressing forward, and to fix my eyes on Christ. Amen.

• Where do you feel most discouraged in your spiritual growth right now?
• How does Hebrews 12 reshape your understanding of slow or difficult progress?
• Where can you choose to remain faithful this week, even if you do not see immediate results?