"Yet, She Persisted" Foreword

“To continue firmly in an opinion or course of action despite difficulty, opposition, or failure”—that is the definition of persist. But lived out, persistence is far more than a definition. It is the quiet resolve that rises when life presses hard, when the valley feels longer than the promise, and when giving up seems easier than believing again.

When we consider all that life holds—the highs that lift us and the lows that humble us—the difference between remaining in our lowest moments and reaching our highest peaks is our willingness to persist. Persistence is the rallying cry of the soul. It is the God-given strength that pushes us forward even when our hearts are weary, and our faith feels thin. It is the inner knowing, placed there by Him, that quitting is not an option.

Persistence reminds us that the place we are standing in today is not our destination. The pain we feel, the doubts we wrestle with, and the setbacks that knock us down are temporary chapters—not the end of the story. With faith, persistence says, yes, I was knocked down—but I will not choose to stay down. Because God is still working, still restoring, still calling us forward.

To persist is to trust that even when we cannot see the way, God is making one.

As you read, may these stories remind you that your journey matters, that your perseverance is seen, and that God is near to the weary and the steadfast alike. If you are holding on by faith alone, know this: that is enough. God honors the persistence of a heart that refuses to let go of Him.

May this anthology encourage you to keep walking, keep believing, and keep trusting—knowing that persistence, grounded in faith, leads not only to endurance, but to transformation