Have you ever found the courage to make a crucial decision, only to be met with unexpected challenges, adversity and critics telling you how wrong you are? This is the story of one such decision.

A group of 102 men, women and children made the decision to set sail for the New World with the hope of finding religious freedom and a better way of life. They set out on September 16, 1620. What they found months later were hardships and trials that would prove to be the truest test of their faith and resolve.

Upon the Mayflower, they crossed the storm-tossed Atlantic Ocean, seasick and crammed in the hull of the ship with little food and lots of uncertainty. Short on necessities but feeling God’s calling, they persevered.

On November 21, they dropped anchor at what is now Provincetown, Massachusetts. It was hundreds of miles north of their original destination of Virginia.

They pressed forward and in December made their way across the bay to settle at Plymouth. They formed and signed the Mayflower Compact – a compact that would soon become the basis for the government in the Plymouth Colony and would greatly influence the formation of the United States government.

After traveling so far and sacrificing so much, they faced a devastating, brutal winter. Many starved to death, some froze, and others succumbed to illness. Nearly half of the original group had died.

When spring arrived, Christopher Jones, the captain of the Mayflower, decided he had had enough of the harsh conditions and resolved to return home. I imagine the frustrated captain standing before his weary passengers, shouting, “I’m done, this was a huge mistake, you must return to England with me!”

Not one of the remaining settlers returned with the captain. They felt the call of God deep in their hearts, and as a group, they refused to go back. They were determined to continue even in the face of tremendous adversity. Undoubtedly, they were afraid and fearful of the future, but they placed their trust in God. It was that trust and reliance that carried them through.

Our great nation exists today because of those courageous men and women who chose to stay and remain true to what they believed God called them to do. They are the foundation for the holiday we now know as Thanksgiving.

As you sit around the table with family and friends this holiday, I encourage you to remember the brave plight of the Pilgrims, and their courage to continue despite the trials and difficulty they endured. Take courage from their story, and let it be a reminder to never give up, even when things appear grim, harsh and desperate. Be willing to make a hard decision, face the consequences and persevere. Don’t you want to see what happens if you don’t give up?

As God was with the Pilgrims, he is with you. Put your faith in God and he will not only give you strength to continue in the midst of adversity and uncertainty, he will also fill your heart with thanksgiving. It is often in our deepest sufferings that we feel God’s love the most.

When was a time you needed the courage to continue and your trust in God gave you that courage? Share your story in the Comments below or share privately using my Contact page – I’d love to hear from you.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Deuteronomy 31:6 | Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. (NASB)

Wanna pray?

God, you are sovereign, you’ve been in control from the beginning and you’re in control now. As you did with the Pilgrims, you are moving, intervening and orchestrating everything. Despite the stress and discomfort we might be in, please give us confidence that you are in control. Help us to find peace, rest and security in your sovereignty, and teach us to put our trust in you and to give thanks, for you are good and your love endures forever.