Fight One More Round
More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. – Romans 5:3-5
In 1892, James J. Corbett became the first boxing heavyweight world champion, winning by knock-out in the 21st round. After the fight, He was asked what’s the key to being a champion, and here’s what he said, “Fight one more round. When your feet are so tired that you have to shuffle back to the center of the ring, fight one more round. When your arms are so tired that you can hardly lift your hands to come on guard, fight one more round. When your nose is bleeding and your eyes are black and you are so tired that you wish your opponent would crack you on the jaw and put you to sleep, fight one more round, remembering that the man who always fights one more round is never whipped.”
I don’t know what your circumstances are or what obstacles you are facing, but let me encourage you to fight one more round. You may feel like giving up, but fight one more round. You may feel defeated, but fight one more round. You’re not beaten yet. You can go again. And I’m confident that you’ll be surprised by what you can achieve if you never give up, and keep on fighting. That’s the key to restoration in life. Not giving up.
We were not created to quit. Scripture has so much to say about the value of perseverance and endurance. So let’s take Corbett’s advice. Let’s choose to never give up, even when everything happening in your life makes you want to throw in the towel. Let’s keep going even when we’re tired and worn down. Let’s draw close to the Lord, following His lead, and persevering so that we might experience all He wants to do in our lives further down the road.
In 1892, James J. Corbett became the first boxing heavyweight world champion, winning by knock-out in the 21st round. After the fight, He was asked what’s the key to being a champion, and here’s what he said, “Fight one more round. When your feet are so tired that you have to shuffle back to the center of the ring, fight one more round. When your arms are so tired that you can hardly lift your hands to come on guard, fight one more round. When your nose is bleeding and your eyes are black and you are so tired that you wish your opponent would crack you on the jaw and put you to sleep, fight one more round, remembering that the man who always fights one more round is never whipped.”
I don’t know what your circumstances are or what obstacles you are facing, but let me encourage you to fight one more round. You may feel like giving up, but fight one more round. You may feel defeated, but fight one more round. You’re not beaten yet. You can go again. And I’m confident that you’ll be surprised by what you can achieve if you never give up, and keep on fighting. That’s the key to restoration in life. Not giving up.
We were not created to quit. Scripture has so much to say about the value of perseverance and endurance. So let’s take Corbett’s advice. Let’s choose to never give up, even when everything happening in your life makes you want to throw in the towel. Let’s keep going even when we’re tired and worn down. Let’s draw close to the Lord, following His lead, and persevering so that we might experience all He wants to do in our lives further down the road.
Subscribe Now for Free Daily Devotions
Recent
Archive
2026
January
When God Feels Silent but is Still at WorkHow to Rebound After a Crushing LetdownWhen Your World Falls Apart After You Did Everything RightGod Is Still Building Roads in the DesertThe Chapter That Comes After TraumaWhen Hope Feels GoneWhen Your Words Start Working Against YouGod’s Resume Is Bigger Than Your SituationWaiting on God is Not Doing NothingBefore Circumstances ChangeGetting In Your Bag When Life Feels UnfairWinning With a Bad HandOverlooked, Insulted, and Still ChosenPrepared in the Field Before the Giant AppearsYou Were Trained for This MomentTaking Off Armor That Does Not FitFormed in the Field, Not on the StageWhen the Battle Is Not Actually YoursWhen You Feel the Urge to Go Through God’s PhoneFaith After Disappointment Still CountsKeep Showing Up Even When You Are ConfusedLocked Doors Do Not Stop JesusWhen You Need an Encounter for YourselfDoubt as a DoorwaySaying What Hurts When God Is in the RoomWhere Faith and Fear CollideShutdown Does Not Mean FinishedWhen Opposition Shows Up Mid-ProgressBuilding Without Responding to the MockeryA Mind to Work in the Middle of WearinessThe Wall Rose Because the People Did Not Quit
February
When Faith Blocks the ViewThe Cost of Carrying the CrossPower Was Never the PointGod Meets You Where You AreFaith That Chooses People Over ProfitWhen the Cross Loses Its MeaningClearing the View So Christ Can Be SeenWhen Worry Becomes a Way of LifeGod Is Not Surprised by Bad LeadershipWhen God Writes on the WallGod Controls the Clock
2025
January
Plenty of RoomThankful for Your SeatWho God Invites to the TableThat’s the PointWe Do Not Have a Monopoly on GodStop Talking So LoudLet God Handle the Guest ListA Long-Awaited ReunionSeeing Jesus for YourselfIn Possession of a Personal PromiseGet in the Right PositionReady to ReceiveAligning Your Life for God's PromiseWaiting with ExpectancyGrounded in PrayerStrength in PrayerPatience Through PrayerStay Focused Through PrayerGod's Conditional PromisesGod’s PriorityGrounded in FaithTrusting God's TimingThe Assurance of God's PromisesIs It Well With Your Soul?Health vs. HealingStewarding Your BodyA Holistic View of SpiritualityGod Cares About Your BodyWhat You Put in MattersNourishing Your SoulThe Power of Prevention
February
The Power of a ComebackHealing from the PastStop Blaming and Start TrustingBury the Past to Claim the FutureFacing Trauma with TruthCelebrate That You SurvivedRepair What is BrokenNothing God Can’t FixDon’t Swing at Bad PitchesStick to God’s PlanDon’t Let Desperation Drive YouShift Your WeightWho Knows Best?A Good Idea Isn’t Always a God IdeaPeace in God’s PlanFinding Purpose in God’s PlanProsperity in God’s PlanTrusting God’s Plan, Pace, and ProcessKnowing When to PivotGod Hasn’t Given Up on YouNext-Level Faith Requires PerseveranceA New Revelation of GodIt’s Not All About YouNext-Level ConnectionsNext-Level CommitmentA Prayer That Moves GodPrayers That Carry a Burden
No Comments