God will strengthen you with his own great power so that you will not give up when troubles comes, but you will be patient. [Colossians 1:11 (NCV)]

Moses spent forty years shepherding sheep and then another forty years shepherding an unruly, ungrateful and (to use his words) “stiff-necked” people. Worse, a journey that could have taken about eleven days was extended to forty years because his people refused to enter the Promised Land when the opportunity first arose. Consider the monotony: forty years of setting up camp, breaking down camp, hearing the same complaints and settling the same arguments, not to mention eating the same food. Now, manna from Heaven is wonderful but forty years of it? How many times did he hear, “Are we there yet?” and, “Manna, again?” If anyone should have been disillusioned, frustrated, and incredibly weary, it was Moses. Yet, Moses hung in there! He is truly an example of not giving up when trouble comes.

Lord, how much longer? Sometimes it seems like no matter what I do, I just can’t seem to make progress. For every step forward, two steps are taken backward. It’s hard to remain enthusiastic when so little progress is made. Encourage me on my life’s journey. Don’t let me lose faith when things don’t go as planned and I have to take the roundabout route instead of the shortest way. Help me learn the lessons that are being taught as I travel the detours of life.

You must hold on, so you can do what God wants and receive what he has promised. [Hebrews 10:36 (NCV)]