Devotions

Straining toward what is ahead

“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14

Seeking God with Intention

I believe God hears our prayers anytime and from anywhere. Because of that, I have never believed that we must go to special places for God to answer us. Still, I cannot deny that seeking God in a special place can be meaningful, depending on a person’s faith and conviction. Even Jesus often withdrew to pray, and before beginning His ministry, He spent forty days in the wilderness. Moses also climbed the mountain to meet with God.

For me, going to such a place represents going the extra mile in seeking God. Although it was not my usual habit, my sisters once convinced me to pray in a special place. To get there, we had to climb a mountain so steep that it felt like climbing a wall. Depending on a person’s fitness level, the climb from the foot of the mountain to the top usually takes two to three hours.

I am not a very fit person, and I do not particularly enjoy physical exercise, but I tried my best that day. After two difficult hours, I felt I could not continue. I sat on the ground, nearly in tears, and told them, “I am not moving from here.” They encouraged me, saying only a few minutes remained, but I kept refusing.

Finally, they told me the truth: I had no real choice but to continue. Going back down would be harder and more dangerous, and no helicopter was coming to rescue me. The only way to reach the easier trail down was to keep climbing until we reached the top.


The Only Way Is Forward

Life often gives us no alternative but to move forward. For anyone who loves life and desires to see many days, forward is the only choice. Whatever lies behind us—whether good or painful—belongs to yesterday. It may inspire us, teach us, and motivate us, but it is not enough to carry us into the calling God has placed before us.

That is why the Apostle Paul wrote about “straining” toward what is ahead. The word matters. To strain means to force oneself to make a strenuous or unusual effort. Paul’s choice of words reminds us that moving forward is not always easy. It requires effort, courage, and perseverance.

I had to strain to reach the top of that mountain. In the same way, we must strain toward the mountain of what God has called us to do: to fulfill our purpose, pursue our ambitions, and realize our dreams. No situation or circumstance should convince us to give up.

Isaiah 43:18–19 says, “Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth. Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” How can that promise come to pass if we remain glued to one place and refuse to move? God may be making a road ahead, but we must be willing to take the next step.


Refusing to Stay Stuck

I once knew a woman whose husband divorced her. For a long time, she refused to move forward. She blamed him for everything, stopped taking care of herself, and told anyone who would listen how deeply she had been wronged. In a sense, she had decided, “I will never move from here.”

But that attitude keeps us from the good things waiting at the top of the mountain. A friend of mine once said, “I am wired to go forward. Support or no support, I advance. I do not have the luxury of being stuck in one place, whether because of what people do to me, what they fail to do for me, a natural disaster, or the ordinary circumstances of life.” That is a healthy mindset. It gives us strength to overcome obstacles and continue pressing forward.

We must keep going forward and strain toward what is ahead in every area of life. If we are not moving forward, we are moving backward; there is no true immobility. The universe continues to evolve, and life keeps moving. If we refuse to move, we will be left behind. And with Christ, how can we remain stuck? In Him, we overcome. In Him, we are more than victorious. In Him, we have life in its fullness.

Posted : Jul 27, 2026