Slow and Steady Won the Race – Don’t quit!
// “Slow and Steady won the race.”
Do you remember the story about The Tortoise and the Hare? How different would it have turned out had the tortoise chosen to have a real pity party instead of plodding away, step-by-step?
“It’s not faaaaaaair. My legs are too slow. My shell is too heavyyyy.”
Can you imagine?
“There are rocks in my waaaay.”
Can you see the path lined with forest animals gathered for the event? Go, rabbit! Go!
“Slow downnnnnn. You’re going too faaast.”
Perhaps the spectators would smile with pity at the cumbersome creature.
“I don’t waaant to.”
Or perhaps they’d roll their eyes at the pathetic underdog.
“I can’t do it.”
Either way, the tale wouldn’t have had the same impact, would it?
“I quit.”
Thank goodness, that wasn’t the moral of this story. Slow and Steady does indeed win the race.
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I don’t know about you, but I really don’t like waiting. In fact, I hate it.
We live in an age of fast food, on-demand entertainment, and instant coffee (uhhh, no instant coffee around here). And it’s normal to want our personal growth to happen just as quickly.
Are you tempted to grade yourself against someone else’s progress, or someone else’s success? It’s tempting to complain about hardships and give up too soon.
But, my friends, we CAN’T give up just because it’s taking longer than we planned. We can’t grow weary and shrink back. //
Don’t give up just because your plans are moving slower than you hoped for. Stay steady! Click To TweetSlow and Steady wins the race, right? Do you remember?
“Slow and Steady walked and walked. He never, ever stopped until he came to the finish line.”
I recently celebrated the one-year anniversary of my writing business. Looking back, I admit that I’ve wanted to quit MANY times.
- It’s very discouraging to start something and see little to no progress each day.
- It’s very discouraging comparing yourself to others who have been doing it longer and better.
Does that critical voice in your head torment you with the familiar words:
“How do you expect to win this race when you are walking along at your slow, slow pace?”
After a year of working slow and steady, I can finally see my progress. I started at the bottom, worked my butt off, improved and grew step-by-step, and—SURPRISE, SURPRISE—was recently awarded Top Billing status on Upwork.com. I’m both shocked and delighted!
But it wouldn’t have happened had I cried out at the beginning, “It’s too haaard. I can’t do it.”
I’m sooo grateful that I didn’t quit when I wanted to.
My friends, can you relate?
- Are you feeling discouraged and shaky?
- Are you ready to ‘throw in the towel’?
If so, say this after me…
A year from now, I’ll be glad I started today! Click To Tweet
5 Scriptures to Strengthen your Weary Heart
“On the day when I was weakest, they attacked. But the Lord held me steady” (Psalm 18:18 NLT).
“Those who trust in the Lord are steady as Mount Zion, unmoved by any circumstance” (Psalm 125:1 NLT).
“And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady” (Romans 5:4 NLT).
“I will steady him and make him strong.” (Psalm 89:21 NLT).
“So, my dear brothers, since future victory is sure, be strong and steady” (1 Corinthians 15:58a NLT).
BE ENCOURAGED. Your Heavenly Father is ready and willing to strengthen and steady you. You are not alone. You can do this!
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♥ HOORAY!
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Every Friday, I join an inspiring group of writers to write for FIVE MINUTES on a one-word prompt. No editing. No revising. Just WRITE. This week, the prompt word was STEADY.
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For more information on Five Minute Friday, check out the new Five Minute Friday website!
Such an encouraging post. It is uplifting to hear from someone who persevered through the discouragement that can accompany slow progress and now can encourage others to persevere. Thank you for the added blessing of the Scripture verses you included. Visiting from FMF. Blessings.
Thanks, Esther! I’m so glad you stopped by. We all need a friend to remind us to keep going and stay steady. I’m so glad you were encouraged. Heading over to read your post too. 🙂
Thank you for this encouragement. This is what I needed to read today. i almost didn’t visit FMF. But God. I almost didn’t write. But God. I almost didn’t visit other posts because of discouragement. But God. He’s amazing.
Oh I’m so glad you stopped by! But God.
So precious.
Courage, my friend.
Visiting from FMF!
Soooo….I might be a whiny tortoise more often that not. I laughed at your description, then cringed. I don’t like to admit it, but often I want the easy way. The lazy way. I get tired and crabby and just want to sit and be mad. Thank you for this encouragement today!
Haha, Marie. I tried out that voice on my teenagers this week too. It was more fun than I expected it to be, but they were disgusted. “Stop acting like a 5-year-old!” I think, more often than not, we act like that in our thoughts.
I’m glad I could make you smile! Have a great week!
just what i neede to hear! just keep swimming just keep swimming (with a dory voice) when all is confusing and bot working as planned in my life this post encourages me to keep walking bit by bit! thanks shauna❤️
Oh, my friend. You are the definition of “just keep swimming.” I’m so blessed by how well you’ve been handling this challenging season. A weaker woman would’ve lost her mind by now 🙂
Don’t quit! Keep going! You can do this!
Needed your message, Shauna. Slowness and steadiness in the face of the lie that faster is better…yes! Keep going with your writing business and ministry. Your work is solid, uplifting, and necessary. Stay the course.
Thanks, my friend. Your encouragement is like GOLD! It’s so important to remember these things when we get impatient with our progress.
Welcome back, btw! I look forward to reading all about your adventures.