Spring became my favorite season while serving as a Sentinel at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. On my days off, I would often walk the quiet hillsides of Northern Virginia, watching the transformation unfold. After a long, dormant winter, new life emerged—green blades pushing through dead grass, oak and dogwood trees budding with promise, birds filling the air with song, and squirrels darting through the trees. Everything and everyone seemed to awaken and celebrate a new season.
For me, those walks became a living metaphor for the journey through hard times. Just as spring arrives after a long winter, new life and opportunities follow our darkest seasons—sometimes quietly, but always with promise. Like the quiet, steadfast march toward spring, perseverance helps us push through winter, knowing that better days are ahead.
The Spiritual Metaphor of Nature
This cycle isn’t just natural—it’s deeply spiritual. In John 12:24, Jesus says:
“Unless a seed falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.”
Nature teaches us that something must be sacrificed to produce something greater. Perseverance is the bridge between the death of one season and the birth of another.
Perseverance in Life and Business
This lesson applies to life just as much as it does to the seasons. Philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche once said, “What does not kill us makes us stronger.” While it may sound encouraging, living through hardship requires real grit.
During my 35 years as a business entrepreneur, I walked through many difficult seasons. One of the hardest was the recession that began in 2007. What was forecasted as a one-year downturn stretched into nearly five years. Our revenue plummeted by 60%, and I had to release many valuable team members.
It was humbling. It was painful. It tested everything I had.
Some of my peers couldn’t withstand the pressure. A few even took their own lives in the fog of despair. I didn’t have an easy answer or a quick fix. There were days when I felt just as overwhelmed; days filled with uncertainty, anxiety, and moments when I questioned everything. But I kept showing up. My only way forward was a quiet, determined perseverance—anchored not just in confidence, but in faith. I leaned into the hope that something better could come out of the ashes, even when I couldn’t see it yet. Slowly, as I kept putting one foot in front of the other, opportunities began to appear. Like the first buds of spring, signs of new life started to break through.
We grow stronger not in spite of hard times, but because of them.
A Word for Your Season
If you’re walking through a “winter” right now—emotionally, financially, or spiritually—don’t lose hope. Perseverance isn’t just endurance; it’s believing in better tomorrows. It’s pressing on when you can’t yet see the outcome. It’s trusting that growth is happening, even beneath the surface.
Practical Application: Nurture Hope Today
Take five quiet minutes and ask yourself:
•What area of my life feels like winter?
• What small step can I take this week to nurture hope?
Maybe it’s starting a habit, reaching out to someone, or simply choosing faith over fear. Perseverance doesn’t always look heroic—but it always leads to growth.
Final Thought
Like the changing seasons, your winter will pass. And when it does, you’ll be ready to bloom with greater strength, faith, and wisdom than ever before. I’ve seen this in my own life, and I can tell you from experience: perseverance works. Even now, when challenges arise, I remember those seasons of hardship and remind myself that something better is on the horizon.
Call to Action
If this message encouraged you, share it with a friend who’s going through a tough season.
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