I have learnt over the years that progress is neither swift nor easy and that success requires grit, writes Pastor Eric Toleafoa of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Galatians 6:9 says “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” (ESV)

Grit is something we don’t often relate with spiritual matters. But it is just as important in our daily pursuit of God as it is in other areas of life, from sports, to learning, to successful business transactions. And so, without grit, success can become quite challenging.

Grit is the passion and perseverance of pursuing a goal we deeply care about. In order to reach our goal, we ought to organise our lives in such a way that nothing distracts us.

We need such grit in our spiritual walk with God, and we also need it in our prayer life.

Too often, we do not see the results of our prayer requests because we are not persistent in our prayers. Perhaps we get distracted or discouraged, or we give up in our hearts and do not believe that God can hear and act in ways far beyond our comprehension.

In Luke 18, Jesus tells His disciples the story of a widow who persistently brought her case to an unjust judge. Although this judge had no regard for God or the woman, he eventually granted the widow’s request because of her persistence (Luke 18:1-7).

God, however, is not indifferent to our prayer requests as the unjust judge was. He is eager to help us far more than we can even understand. He says in Jeremiah 33:3 (NIV) “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”

What we need today, in our marriages, in our classrooms, in our churches and homes, are people who pray. Not just those who talk about prayer, those who say they believe in prayer, or even those who can give nice explanations about prayer. We actually need people who take the time and pray!

With persistence God does not work on the premise of faster and cheaper. Often in the great controversy between God and Satan we need persistent prayer. We must be passionate and persistent in our prayers because God’s timetables often don’t line up with our human understanding. God rarely takes the path of least resistance when working out His divine solutions. He is not interested in the easy way out but in the best way forward!

In our prayers, let us not settle for less or remain satisfied with shortsighted goals. God is pleased when we persevere in our prayers.

Let’s persistently ask God to reveal His love in our homes and communities and to also bring harmony and healing to broken relationships, protect the vulnerable, and reveal His sanctifying power in seemingly hopeless situations.

Our success according to one of my favourite Christian authors who says, ‘The greatest victories to the church of Christ or to the individual Christian are not those that are gained by talent or education, by wealth or the favour of men. They are those victories that are gained in the audience chamber with God, when earnest, agonising faith lays hold upon the mighty arm of power’. (PP)

Here are some gritty examples of prayer heroes: Hannah, who prayed fervently for a son and dedicated him to God’s service (1 Samuel 1-2).

Daniel, who prayed regularly and interceded for his people in exile (Daniel 9).

King David, who prayed with honesty, repentance, and praise (1 Samuel 23; 2 Samuel 24; Psalm 4:1).

Job, who prayed with integrity and trust in God’s sovereignty (Job 1:5; 42:8).

Jesus, who prayed with obedience, intimacy, and authority (Mark 1:45; John 17).

So, “…let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9 (ESV).

Have a blessed and enjoyable weekend with your families, keep safe, but most of all ‘Be Encouraged!’