Despite the obstacles that are in front of you and regardless of how many times you’ve failed, there comes a point in every athlete’s life that he or she must face and conquer their fears. This is why every athlete must possess a heart of perseverance.

Perseverance is the ability to keep going in the face of adversity. It is having the mindset that no matter how difficult the goal, the triumph of willpower over weakness will gain success.

There’s a story recorded in Mark 5:25-34 about a woman who had an issue of blood for 12 years. This story serves as a simple reminder that we must be relentless in our pursuit of God and continue to walk by faith in the face of adversity.

This woman’s story teaches us four things about what it means to have a heart of perseverance.

A persevering heart shows Persistence

Mark 5:25 mentions that this woman had been dealing with this issue for 12 years. When you think about it, 12 years is a long time to deal with the same issue over and over again.

Despite it being 12 years, the woman did not give up, and she demonstrated persistence in the face of adversity. When you don’t see immediate results, it is not the time to quit. It is the time to push through and relentlessly pursue your goals, your dreams, your aspirations, or whatever it is that God has placed on your heart.

A persevering heart endures Pain

Obviously this woman had a desire to get better. Mark 5:26 (NASB) says that she “had endured much at the hands of many physicians, and had spent all that she had.”

How does it feel when you are doing all that you can to fix the issue, yet the situation actually gets worse? This can be a hard pill to swallow for some, but a persevering heart endures pain. Whether it is physical or emotional pain, we can’t allow our pain to stop our pursuit of God.

A persevering heart has the right Perspective

After spending time and resources with the physicians, this woman heard about Jesus and came up in the crowd behind Him and touched his cloak (Mark 5:27). In verse 28, the woman thought, “If I just touch His garments, I will get well.”

After everything she had been through, this woman understood the power of faith. She had the right perspective about her situation. She did not give up or throw in the towel because of her past failures.

She knew that she found someone who had the power to heal her, and that someone was none other than Jesus Christ. There are always multiple ways you can look at a situation. Try focusing on the positive rather than the negative.

A persevering heart makes Progress

The Bible says that once the woman touched Jesus, she was healed immediately (Mark 5:29). The story concludes in Mark 5:34 with Jesus saying “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace and be healed of your affliction.”

A persevering heart makes progress. Throughout 12 years of pain and suffering, this woman finally received the healing she so desired. This woman made progress in receiving the blessing that God had in store for her.

No matter how difficult the situation gets, continue to walk in God’s will and make progress. Jesus is with you every step of the way.