Dan Butcher is the pastor at Crossroads Community Christian Church near Bringhurst. "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ." Philippians 3:14.

Today more than any other time in my life, people are struggling. There is a struggle for employment and for provisions. There is a struggle to maintain relationships due to the many pressures people are turning to blame, and marriages and relationships are crumbling apart. Many people are even struggling with their faith - crying to heaven that if God loved them why is he allowing terrible things to happen in their lives.

Life has become a challenge and it is requiring people to fight for survival. People are being challenged to fight for what is important. As the times continue to be difficult, a person's true character will be revealed. How we measure up against this current challenge is everything. We are in the challenge of a lifetime and what is at stake is our souls and the souls of those who we love.

The trial of the day is not a quick attack. The trial that we are living in will run its course, however, it will not soon depart. We are in a long run and we must run in such a way as to press on to the goal. We must press on to obtain the prize. We must endure this current time of trial and see the deliverance of Jesus Christ.

Through our struggle, facing our challenge, enduring the trial we must see that we are not alone. We do not walk through this fire without help. Jesus Christ, through the power and the presence of the Holy Spirit, is with us. If anything good comes from these times, let it be that all God's children turned to him for their strength. God promised that he would not leave us nor forsake us. He told us that he would turn our weakness into our greatest strength.

Today through economical strife, through moral collapse, through a faith crisis, we who are God's people cannot give up. We must "press on." "Press on." "Press on." And when weary, "press on."