Pressing On: Where True Determination Comes From

There are seasons in life when determination feels distant. The energy to keep going seems buried beneath responsibility, disappointment, or quiet discouragement. In moments like these, we often assume that pressing on requires more discipline, more grit, or more self-motivation. But what if determination was never meant to be something we manufacture on our own?

One truth that has stayed with me recently is this: determination does not come from my own strength or willpower, but from God working within me through His Holy Spirit. When I sit with that thought, it changes everything. It shifts the pressure away from striving and places the focus back where it belongs—on God.

"No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us."

Philippians 3:13-14 (NLT)

This verse has been especially meaningful to me lately. We are often tempted to let our circumstances define us. Exhaustion, fear, disappointment, and even bitterness can quietly shape our perspective if we are not careful. And when that happens, devotion can slowly drift to the background—not always intentionally, sometimes simply because life happens. But God’s invitation remains the same: renew your devotion, pursue Me in the middle of it all.

Pressing on does not mean ignoring the weight we carry. It means choosing to fix our eyes on Jesus rather than on the situation in front of us. When the focus changes, something remarkable happens. A renewed sense of purpose begins to rise. It’s not forced, not rushed, but gently formed. That quiet determination wells up in the soul, reminding us that we are not walking alone.

I have personally felt this shift after a season of feeling scattered and unmotivated. Without realizing it, I had allowed busyness and mental noise to take up more space than stillness and reflection. Yet even in that, God remained faithful. Slowly, I began to sense alignment—small nudges to get up, to start again, to move forward one step at a time. Nothing dramatic. Just a renewed willingness to keep moving forward.

What encouraged me most was realizing that it’s never too late in God’s timeline to begin again. Whether it’s returning to a neglected habit, stepping into a new season, or simply choosing to trust Him once more, God meets us exactly where we are. He provides what we need when we need it, often in ways we don’t expect.

Sometimes the path forward doesn’t look like what we planned. Sometimes it leads somewhere unfamiliar. But trusting God means believing that His ways are better, even when they feel different. Progress doesn’t always come with clarity, but it does come with peace when we place our trust in Him.

If you find yourself weary, unfocused, or unsure of what’s next, know this: you don’t have to create determination from nothing. Fix your eyes on Jesus. Renew your devotion. He will meet you there—and in His time, He will give you the strength to press on.