When life gets tough: Holding on and moving forward

Have you ever labored so hard but to end up with almost nothing to show for, then you felt like giving up!?

Have you ever tried to birth something (ministry, outreach, career, business, family) but faced adversity and you began to even question whether God was concerned about you!?

Have you ever felt like everything is at the pinnacle (perfect) in your ministry, family, outreaches, finances, then, before you knew it, hell broke loose on you and caused havoc, turmoil, confusion and you began to wonder whether things will ever return to normalcy!?

Take heart my friend. You’re neither the first nor the last one to face adversity while fighting for a noble cause.

When I spoke at RAAZ Ignite 2025, I didn’t know how much the message would resonate — not just with those who were listening, but with me too. I spoke on, “Resilience in the Face of Adversity”. And honestly, who hasn’t faced adversity lately?

We’ve all been there. You work so hard on something — your ministry, business, studies, or family — and then it seems to fall apart right in front of you. You start asking yourself, “Lord, are You even seeing this?”

If you’ve ever felt like that, you’re not alone. Every one of us who follows Jesus will face moments that test our faith and endurance. The key is not avoiding adversity — it’s learning to stand firm in it.

When I think of resilience, I often go back to Paul the Apostle. This man faced rejection, beatings, imprisonment, false accusations — and yet, he never stopped preaching the gospel. He wrote,

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. (2 Corinthians 4:8–9)

Paul wasn’t just being poetic — he was living that reality! What kept him going was simple: he knew who called him and believed that God’s purpose was worth the pain.

That’s what resilience really is. It’s not about being tough or pretending things don’t hurt. It’s not pride or blind optimism. Real resilience comes from faith — trusting that God is still at work even when everything looks upside down.

It’s the quiet confidence that says, “I cannot be defeated, and I will not quit”, not because you’re strong, but because He is faithful.

Reflecting on RAAZ Ignite 2025, I want to leave with a few thoughts to keep us anchored in this season:

1. Stay grounded in God’s Word. His promises are stronger than our feelings.
2. Remember our calling. God doesn’t make mistakes. If He called us, He will sustain us.
3. Stay connected. We need each other. Reach out, encourage someone, and let’s walk this journey together as alumni.
4. Live on mission. “Feet that go” is not about distance — it’s about the Great Commission (Mattew 28:19). Wherever we are, let’s keep representing Jesus.
5. Don’t give up. Even when it’s hard, let’s keep going. God is not finished with us yet.

Let’s keep walking with faith, with courage, and with one another. We may be pressed, but we’re not crushed.

We are the feet that go. Let’s keep going!