The Power of Persistence in the Face of Pain

Mar 9 , 2025
By Eden Sahle

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Pain is often seen as a roadblock, but for some, it becomes a catalyst for transformation. When faced with deep struggles, they confront their limits and find new ways to push forward. Indeed, the greatest breakthroughs often emerge not when life is easy, but when we are at our lowest.

In the moment, pain feels unbearable. Our instinct is to resist it, to wish it away. But pain has a purpose. It teaches resilience, shapes character and forces us to dig deeper than we ever thought possible.

Most of us have experienced moments when we felt completely lost, when giving up seemed like the only option. Yet, somehow, we found unexpected strength or grew in ways we never imagined. This is the paradox of struggle: it can break us down, but it also has the power to build us up.

Sorrow is an inevitable part of life. It comes in many forms; failure, loss, physical suffering, rejection, and financial hardship. Yet, when life presents no easy choices and forces people into a corner, many find their greatest breakthroughs.

Over the weekend, I spoke with my peers about the resilience of certain individuals who set an extraordinary example for others. I know people who have faced immense challenges, yet they persevered, overcoming life’s greatest hardships.

My mentor, who is in his early seventies, exemplifies incredible resilience. Throughout his life, he faced unimaginable difficulties, yet he refused to surrender to despair.

Married at 21, he struggled for years to provide for his family. He endured multiple illnesses that left him hospitalized for months. Just when he thought his worst days were behind him, his wife was diagnosed with cancer, and his son committed suicide.

It would have been understandable if he had given up. Instead, he chose to be kind to himself. He cried alone for weeks but found the strength to rise again because each day offered a fresh opportunity to start over.

He didn’t let his painful setbacks define him. Rather, he encouraged his wife to stay courageous through cancer treatments. Together, they demonstrated extraordinary resilience, battling cancer while grieving the devastating loss of their son.

Their prayers and positive outlook were not in vain. His wife survived breast cancer, and after fifty years of marriage, they remain side by side. They overcame their grief and using their experiences guide others through loss and hardship in the hopes that tomorrow will be a better day. They have built successful businesses that brought them great wealth, yet their life experiences have kept them grounded and humble.

My mentor credits his resilience to the story of Abraham Lincoln, a man who faced countless failures and tragedies before becoming one of the greatest leaders in history. Few historical figures embody the power of persistence like Abraham Lincoln. Today, he is remembered as the president who abolished slavery and preserved the Union during the Civil War. But before his success, Lincoln endured overwhelming failure, personal tragedy, and severe depression.

Born into poverty in 1809, Lincoln lost his mother at the age of nine and received little formal education. He had to teach himself by reading borrowed books by candlelight. As he grew older, his struggles intensified. He lost his job. Started a business that failed and left him in debt. He lost his first romantic partner unexpectedly. He lost two of his sons to illness. Multiple political defeats and a nervous breakdown left him prone to bouts of depression and melancholy.

Most people would have given up. But Lincoln refused to let failure define him. He learned from every defeat and continued to push forward. In 1860, he was elected the 16th president of the United States, leading the country through its darkest hours and cementing his legacy as one of history’s greatest figures. Had Lincoln surrendered to despair, the world might be a very different place. His story reminds us that breakdowns can lead to breakthroughs.

At times, a breakdown feels like the end. But more often than not, it marks the beginning of something new, a moment of transformation where old ways fall apart to make room for something greater.

Many of the world’s greatest innovators, leaders, and visionaries share similar stories. Nelson Mandela spent 27 years in prison before leading South Africa to freedom. Thomas Edison found 1,000 ways that didn’t work before inventing the lightbulb. J.K. Rowling was rejected by 12 publishers before "Harry Potter" became a global phenomenon.

These individuals did not succeed because life was easy for them. They succeeded because they refused to give up when life was hard. Their struggles refined them, strengthened their character, and prepared them for greatness.

While history and personal mentors can inspire us, applying these lessons to our own lives is a deeply personal challenge. Instead of viewing failure as the end, we should see it as a stepping stone to progress. These stories teach us that no matter how painful life becomes, the key is to keep going. Progress may be slow, but each small step forward keeps us moving in the right direction.

There will always be circumstances outside our control, just as my mentor couldn’t control his failures or personal losses. But we can control our attitude, our actions, and our persistence.

The lives of those who refuse to give up prove one thing: failure and pain are not final. With persistence, breakthroughs are inevitable. Pain can be a teacher, a guide, and a source of wisdom that prepares us for the responsibilities we will carry.

Great success stories are often built on a foundation of struggle, failure, and persistence. History shows us that those who refuse to quit are the ones who ultimately change the world.

If we allow it, suffering can deepen our empathy, strengthen our resolve, and prepare us to become role models for others. The power of persistence lies not in avoiding pain, but in embracing it as the fuel that drives us forward.

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PUBLISHED ON Mar 09, 2025 [ VOL 25 , NO 1297]

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