Some of you, like me and much of the nation, have been glued to the tennis during this Wimbledon fortnight. I’ve always loved watching Wimbledon ever since that epic Nadal vs. Federer final in 2008 (if you know, you know). But what I find most striking about watching tennis is the long rallies. You see players throwing everything they have, shot after shot. They give all they have, and then three seconds later, they have to throw it all back, and then again, and again. And I’m amazed at how these players keep going, how they keep pushing even when they are at breaking point. Yet it is through such perseverance that they eventually win the point and then the match.

Sometimes our Christian faith can feel like a tennis match. We are trying to follow God with all that we have, and then a challenge comes at us. We overcome it and push on, but then something else comes at us. It might be a loved one who is unwell, or you have lost your job, or your 3 month old baby will not sleep for more than 45 minutes at a time. Whatever it is, when these setbacks come our way, we may feel like throwing in the towel and giving up. We want to give up on trusting God and trying to live for Him. But just like all the stars at Wimbledon, we need to keep pushing back against these shots that come at us. We need to persevere and know that when we keep going for God, and keep trusting Him, we will get there in the end. This week, let us keep pushing on for God.