I have been walking with Jesus for forty-one years now.

That sentence carries more weight than it used to. It holds seasons of joy and seasons of struggle. It holds obedience that came easily and obedience that came at great cost. It holds prayers that were answered quickly and prayers that required long waiting. But above all, it holds the faithfulness of God.

I have been married for thirty-three years. We have raised seven children. Life has been full. And it has been hard. Anyone who has lived long enough knows that faithfulness is not sustained by intensity alone. It is sustained by endurance.

Staying faithful is harder than starting well.

Early in the journey, everything feels alive with possibility. Over time, the road stretches on. Responsibility increases. Weariness sets in. The question quietly shifts from “Will I follow?” to “Will I remain?” That is where formation deepens.

Scripture speaks to this reality. “Let us not grow weary of doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9

I have learned that the long road exposes what we are truly living for. If I am living for outcomes, waiting will frustrate me. If I am living for affirmation, silence will shake me. But if my life is anchored in the glory of God, then faithfulness itself becomes the goal.

Even now, my wife and I find ourselves waiting again. Waiting on God to make clear where He is calling me to pastor next. Waiting through uncertainty, prayer, and discernment. Waiting without timelines or guarantees. That kind of waiting is not easy. It stretches trust. It invites questions. It humbles ambition.

But this is not a wilderness without purpose.

I have walked with God long enough to know that waiting is often preparation, not punishment. God is still forming us. Still aligning our hearts. Still refining our why. The road may feel quiet, but it is not empty. God is intentional in His timing, and His delays are never accidental.

The road has not always been easy. Some seasons have been deeply painful. Others have been richly joyful. But through it all, I have learned this. A life that matters is not built by shortcuts or speed. It is formed through steady obedience over the long haul.

Again, Scripture is my anchor here. “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6

I hold this in my heart at all times: God finishes what He starts.

Faithfulness is not glamorous. It is often unseen. It rarely feels urgent. But it is good. It honors God. And it bears fruit in ways we may not recognize until much later.

If the journey feels long for you right now, do not assume you are off course. You may be exactly where God intends you to be. Stay faithful. Keep walking. Keep listening. Keep your life aimed at His glory.

The road must be walked.
And it is worth walking well.

DRJBD