The righteous keep moving forward, and those with clean hands become stronger and stronger. Job 17:9

The Hawaiian Islands make up a tropical paradise that sits in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, 2,500 miles away from the nearest land.  The waters that surround the islands are various shades of blue and gentle trade winds blow across the isles.  For 400 years, determined Polynesians on far away islands tried to sail those winds, following the migration of the Golden Plover, to new islands they believed must be there.  Their canoes could never keep up with the birds and they had to turn back. They kept trying for 400 years before they finally made it to the Hawaiian archipelago!

Why each succeeding generation of Polynesians kept at it when their elders had failed, we don’t know.  What keeps you moving when you’re up against failure, time and time again?  The Bible gives especially encouraging words to followers of Jesus when it comes to persevering, to keeping on.

“He will keep you strong to the end,” says the book of First Corinthians (I Corinthians 1:8).  If you’re in a really difficult situation today, you may think you’re at the end; but the Bible assures you that, “The righteous keep moving forward, and those with clean hands become stronger and stronger” (Job 17:9)

Do you know how muscles grow?  As they are put to strenuous work, tiny fibers of the muscle tear and then heal.  The muscle is larger, stronger and capable of more.  Jesus follower, you are moving forward, you are growing!

Keep on!  Keep following Jesus.

Resource reading: Galatians 6:9-10