In her new book GRIT, author Angela Duckworth describes how people demonstrate passion and perseverance in life.

Her book is filled with memorable stories and people.

For example, Duckworth tells the story of a man who grew up in the Bronx in the 1970's and wanted to become a professional cartoonist. For 2 years, Bob submitted over 2,000 cartoons to the New Yorker. 

He received 2,000 rejection slips.

Failure, 2,000 times.

But Bob persevered and in 1978 the New Yorker bought one of his cartoons; later he became a contract cartoonist.

Today, Bob Mankoff is the cartoon editor for the New Yorker.

Perserverance. Grit. Endurance. These are characteristics we should value and teach children and young adults.

Spiritually, however, when we sin we cannot just persevere on our own. When we fall short of God's standard for life we cannot just show grit and hope life will change.

The Bible says that when we fail spiritually, when we sin, we should repent; we should confess our sins and ask the triune God to forgive us.

When King David failed morally as the leader of Israel and as a husband, he did not try to perservere in his own strength. He did not try to show grit in the face of moral failures.

He repented.

"Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy, blot out my trangressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin" (Psalm 51.1-2).

When you fail the Lord, don't try to persevere apart from the mercy of God. Repent. Confess. And receive forgiveness for your sin.