One of my favorite moments from the 2007 Desiring God National Conference was the message delivered by Dr. Helen Roseveare entitled “A Call for the Perseverance of the Saints.” Dr. Roseveare served for over twenty years as a medical missionary to the Congo, and now, in her eighties, has answered the call to the mission field of Northern Ireland. She is an incredible woman and an inspiration for us all. If you have time, you would do well to listen to this audio excerpt from Dr. Roseveare’s message.

I listened to the message again last night on my way back home after a long and troubling week and was greatly blessed. When going through a tough phase “in the valley,” I tend to get impatient and seek for a quick resolution from God. I was reminded again by Dr. Roseveare that God is in control, even in our personal struggles, and that it is important that we keep the faith and persevere. In her words: “It is utterly essential to persevere to the end. To start a race is fine; but it’s much more important that we finish, that we hit the tape.”

Related: You can listen to, watch, or download the entire message at Desiring God.