Seeing Your Goals
March 8th, 2010
Not knowing exactly how to reach your goals is very discouraging, but it is the price you pay to reach important goals. For example, people who enter college often do not know what they will major in. Many think they know, but then change majors before they graduate. So, do not worry about changing course or making adjustments in reaching your goals because this is to be expected and it is part of the process.
I heard about a mountain climber who described what it was like to climb Mount Everest. He was asked by a reporter about what discouraged him the most in climbing the mountain. He said the most discouraging times were when the summit was obscured by clouds. As long as he could see the summit he was encouraged because he knew exactly where he was going. Knowing exactly where you are going is encouraging and not knowing is discouraging, but the problem with goals is that you cannot always see the summit. For example, I was over half way through a book I just finished writing before I had a good idea of where I was going. It was only at the beginning of chapter seven that I had a clear vision of how the book would turn out, and even then I did not see the last chapter. So, like the climber, the most discouraging time for me was before chapter seven.
Perseverance is how you overcome the discouragement of uncertainty. Perseverance is defined as a steady course of action in spite of difficulties. Paul reminds Christians that perseverance can be a benefit of suffering. “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Romans 5:3-4).
J B Myers
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