Beyond the Finish Line: Finding Joy in the Process of Pressing Forward

Sometimes, when we think about ‘endurance,’ we picture the dramatic accounts—the shipwreck, the brutal survival, the seemingly impossible feat of human will. We look at stories of incredible grit, and we ask, “How did they do it? Where did they find the strength?”

As returned missionaries, we’ve seen some of the most incredible resilience in the field. We’ve seen our companions press forward when the culture was challenging, when the investigator was hesitant, or when the Spirit felt distant. We often focus on the ‘product’—the conversion, the baptismal covenant, the temple recommend—but lately, I’ve been reflecting on the process itself. The journey, the messy, beautiful, day-by-day effort, is where the real shaping happens.

I recently watched a talk by J. Ty Hopkins, and it really struck a chord with me. He spoke about how the process, including all the positive *and* negative experiences, is what shapes us. It made me think about our own discipleship journey.

The Spirit: Our Ultimate Source of Power

When we first entered the field, or even when we were in MTC, our focus was often laser-sharp: Get the message out. We were focused on the ‘finish line’—the conversion. I remember feeling that intense pressure to perform, to achieve the perfect missionary discussion, to replicate the success stories we read about.

But Hopkins’ talk shifted my perspective. He pointed out the amazing power of the human spirit. And that resonated deeply with me as a Latter-day Saint. Our power source isn't just grit; it’s the Spirit. It’s not just about *doing* the work; it’s about *being* connected to the Savior while we do it.

Endurance Isn't Just Grinding; It's Learning

He mentioned that endurance is learning. In our own context, this means that when a teaching feels difficult, when an investigator asks a question that stumps us, or when a transfer feels like a setback, that moment of confusion or struggle *is* the lesson. It’s where we learn to dig deeper into the scriptures, where we learn to rely on our district leaders, and where we learn to trust the guidance of the Spirit.

It’s in those moments that we really get to practice what we preach—the steadfastness in Christ. It’s not just about knowing the right answer; it’s about having the faith to keep showing up, day after day, even when the answers are elusive.

Finding Joy in the Process

The most profound takeaway for me was that joy isn't found *at* the finish line; it’s found *while* running the race. It's finding gratitude for the companion who helped you study the scriptures last night, or the quiet moment in the temple where the Spirit settles over you. Those moments are the nourishment.

This applies to us as Internet missionaries, too. We can’t always be physically present, but we can be disciples anywhere, all the time. We can find that joy in the shared study of the scriptures in a Book Club, or in the thoughtful reflection during a Social Scripture Study session in LivingBook. We can use our online connections to build the spiritual muscle memory that prepares us for the next call, the next assignment, or the next time we feel the call to serve.

If you’re feeling the weight of the work, remember that the effort *is* the blessing. Keep pressing forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and trust that the Lord is refining you in the process. He is preparing you for the eternal life that awaits.

If you want to deepen your understanding of this, I highly recommend looking into the Iron Rod articles on perseverance. For a practical way to build that spiritual muscle, I invite you to join our free weekly Disciple Challenge this week. It’s a simple way to focus on one scripture principle daily and feel the Spirit move!