So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

Having worked in Africa, the Caribbean, and North America I’ve discovered that people have one thing in common: Everyone reaches a point at which they’re exhausted with the ongoing struggle to make progress with people who couldn’t care and won’t try. You may be one of those people today. You’re weary, longing for a little encouragement, hoping to find some way to gather your resources and continue in the fray. If you are, then the following anonymous prose may be just the tonic you need:

 

ANYWAY!

People are unreasonable, illogical and self centred.

LOVE THEM ANYWAY.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.

DO GOOD ANYWAY.

If you are successful you win false friends and true enemies.

SUCCEED ANYWAY.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.

DO GOOD ANYWAY.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.

BE HONEST AND FRANK ANYWAY.

People favour underdogs but follow only top dogs.

FIGHT FOR SOME UNDERDOGS ANYWAY.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.

BUILD ANYWAY.

People really need help but may attack you if you help them.

HELP PEOPLE ANYWAY.

         Give the world the best you have and you’ll get kicked in the teeth.

  GIVE THE WORLD YOUR BEST ANYWAY.

In other words take heart and “forget what is behind and strain toward what is ahead” Philippians 3:13. “Press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called (you) heavenward in Christ Jesus” Philippians 3:14. For “all of us who are mature should take such a view of things” Philippians 3:15. So “press on” and “stand firm in the Lord dear friends” and the victory will be yours (cf. Philippians 3:12; 4:1).