When prayer is less sweet and easy; when love is less animated and tender; when the presence of God is less evident and less consoling; when even outward duties are fulfilled with less facility and enjoyment; then faithfulness is greater when maintained under these painful circumstances, and that is all that God requires. —François Fénelon (1651–1715)

Watch where Jesus went. The one dominant note in his life was to do his Father’s will. His is not the way of wisdom or of success, but the way of faithfulness. —Oswald Chambers (1874–1917)

He does most in God’s great world who does his best in his own little world. —Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826)

Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree. —Martin Luther (1483–1546)

Remember, God does not pay us for results, but for effort. —Giovanni “Don” Bosco (1815–1888)

Here is the great secret of success: Work with all your might, but never trust in your work. Pray with all your might for the blessing in God, but work at the same time with all diligence, with all patience, with all perseverance. Pray and work. Work and pray. —George Müller (1805–1898)

All that I have accomplished, or expect or hope to accomplish, has been and will be by that plodding, patient, persevering process of accumulation that builds the ant-heap, particle by particle, thought by thought, fact by fact. —Elihu Burritt (1810–1879)

Being faithful in the smallest things is the way to gain, maintain, and demonstrate the strength needed to accomplish something great. —Alex Harris (1975–2009)

God knows our situation; He will not judge us as if we had no difficulties to overcome. What matters is the sincerity and perseverance of our will to overcome them. —C.S. Lewis (1898–1963)

Battles are fought in our minds every day. When we begin to feel the battle is just too difficult and want to give up, we must choose to resist negative thoughts and be determined to rise above our problems. We must decide that we’re not going to quit. When we’re bombarded with doubts and fears, we must take a stand and say: “I’ll never give up! God’s on my side. He loves me, and He’s helping me! I’m going to make it!” —Joyce Meyer (b. 1943)

Like the star that shines afar,
Without haste and without rest,
Let each man wheel with steady sway
Round the task that rules the day,
And do his best.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832)