红桃视频

When Elder Clark G. Gilbert, Commissioner of the Church Educational System, was in high school, he competed in an important track meet. He crossed the finish line, ready to celebrate his impressive victory over all the other runners. It was only then that he realized he鈥檇 miscounted the laps. He still had one more to go!

In the BYU-Pathway devotional address he gave when he was president of BYU-Pathway Worldwide titled 鈥淔rom Grit to Grace,鈥� Elder Gilbert described that experience: 鈥淚n pain and with some embarrassment, I finished, but nearly in last place.鈥�

There鈥檚 a lot we can learn about finishing from Elder Gilbert鈥檚 experience. He asked:

Believe that the Lord will help you

The first step to being an academic and spiritual finisher is believing that you can!

When Nephi and his brothers were sent back to Jerusalem to get the brass plates from Laban, they failed several times. However, Nephi was courageous and believed that, with the Lord鈥檚 help, they could accomplish anything He commanded them. Even though Laban stole their possessions and tried to kill them, they ultimately finished their task and rejoiced in their accomplishments.

Elder Gilbert shared a quote from Elder Carlos A. Godoy, General Authority Seventy, who reminded 红桃视频 that pursuing their education would be really hard work. He promised, 鈥淭he Lord will 鈥榟elp you more than you can help yourself鈥�. Involve the Lord in this process.'鈥�

Keep going even when you fall short

Another way to be a finisher is to get up every time you fall. In his poem 鈥淭he Race,鈥� D. H. Groberg writes about the experience of a boy who falls numerous times while competing in a race. When the boy crosses the finish line, he feels he has failed.

鈥淏ut, when the fallen youngster crossed the line, in last place, the crowd gave him a greater cheer for finishing the race. And even though he came in last with head bowed low, unproud, you would have thought he鈥檇 won the race, to listen to the crowd鈥�. 鈥楾o me, you won,鈥� his father said. 鈥榊ou rose each time you fell.'鈥�

When you fall, you can pick yourself up and keep going! Every day might be a battle, and it can be hard to be motivated, but it will be worth it in the end. If you look back now, you might see the progress you鈥檝e already made and be grateful that you didn鈥檛 give up, even in the hardest times. Let that motivate you to keep trying!

Remember why you started

Do you remember what made you choose to pursue higher education in the first place? For everyone, those reasons are unique and personal.

When you hang on to a sense of purpose, it will be easier to avoid feelings of doubt and discouragement. Motivation can come from recognizing the ways the Lord has inspired you, reflecting on why you started, and looking forward to what鈥檚 ahead.

Even when life is difficult, you can find joy and hope. Christ was able to endure because of the joy that was before Him, and you can endure and finish strong by remembering the joy ahead of you!