“When at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try again.” This saying was popularized by Edward Hickson in the mid-19th century, but Paul learned this lesson almost 2,000 years before that. His initial efforts to win Jews to Christ in Corinth failed miserably (Acts 18:5-6). You would think he would be tempted to give up. But then, the leader of the synagogue, one of the most unlikely people of all, turned to Christ. Jews and Gentiles alike were being saved.

God told Paul not to be afraid, but to continue his work because God wanted more people to be saved in Athens. Sometimes things don’t go as we hoped or planned. We share the gospel, and someone doesn’t respond like we’ve prayed they would. We serve God, but don’t see the results we expected. It is in those moments that we need to persevere. God will use us for His kingdom if we don’t give up.

What is an area or situation in your life where you need to keep persevering for God?