I’ve been reading through the late Randy Pausch’s book, The Last Lecture, which is both a written form and commentary on his now famous “Last Lecture“. This lecture was given at Carnegie Mellon University only months after he received a terminal diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Although he wouldn’t consider himself a Christian, he shares some great life principles. Here’s one I especially appreciated:

Sometimes brick walls aren’t there to keep you out, but to show you how much you want it.

In the Christian world we often talk about closed doors. If there’s a closed door we might say, “Well, I guess it wasn’t God’s will.” I want to challenge that thought, not because it’s untrue but rather because it can be (at times) an easy copout to doing what God has already asked of us.

The Bible talks about a little concept called persistence. In a microwave culture we’ve really lost this skill, but that doesn’t change its necessity. You want to see people transformed by the gospel? You want to see your church grow like it never has before? You want to see God’s blessing on your ministry? That doesn’t happen by just walking through ‘open doors’. Change, growth, and whatever else you’re hoping for most often happens only through persistence.

It’s Monday morning and after yesterday you might be ready to throw in the towel. I want to challenge you with this thought: He who called you will empower you. Don’t give up, the task is far too great! Success does not usually come to the most skilled or talented, but to the most persistent. Remember, “sometimes brick walls aren’t there to keep you out, but to show you how much you want it”. Go out there today and break through some brick walls!