Rise and Lead
Rise and Lead
You Are Closer Than You Think - Don't Quit Now: How to Build Grit and Resilience with Benjamin Lundquist - RAL 91
On this episode, You Are Closer Than You Think - Don't Quit Now,
Benjamin dives deep into how to re-frame your current chapter - through powerful case studies, proven research, and practical teaching. This is more than motivation. It’s about fueling your faith, strengthening your courage, and unlocking the grit you need to keep going. If you’re wrestling with fear, if the pressure feels heavy, if hope feels out of reach - this episode was made for you. I’m going to show you how resilient leaders are made, and how you can rise again —stronger, bolder, and more focused than ever. Don’t count yourself out. You’re closer than you think.
Episode Quote:
"Grit is what keeps you going when you're tired, unseen, and un-celebrated. Grit says, “God’s not finished with me, so I won’t quit now.” People who achieve great things aren’t always the most talented - but they are the ones who don’t quit. They show up. They stay committed. They push through resistance and hardship. You don’t need to be the smartest in the room. You just need to be the one who refuses to give up."
This episode, like all Rise and Lead Podcast episodes, is highly practical and motivating. Don't forget to subscribe to the Rise and Lead Podcast to ensure you get notified when new episodes release every month. When you share about the podcast, make sure and tag @benjaminlundquist, and he'll always try and give you a re-post. Remember, the best time to rise and lead is now!
People who achieve great things aren't always the most talented, but they are the ones who don't quit. They show up, they stay committed, they push through resistance and hardship. You don't need to be the smartest person in the room. You just need to be the one who refuses to give up. Grit correlates with deliberate practice. Do hard things on purpose to improve over time. Grit isn't just passion. It's passion combined with repeated action that stretches and develops capability.
Speaker 1:Welcome to Rise and Lead. I'm Benjamin Lundquist, and this podcast is all about personal growth and leadership. Thank you for listening and for being a part of our Rise and Lead community. We are a community of leaders who are passionate about growth, leadership and expanding our impact on the world. This episode is a lifeline for anyone who feels tired, stretched thin or on the verge of giving up. We're diving deep into how to reframe your current chapter through powerful case studies, proven research and practical teaching. This is more than motivation. This is about fueling your faith, strengthening your courage and unlocking the grit you need to keep going If you're wrestling with fear, if the pressure feels heavy, if hope feels out of reach. This episode was made for you. I'm going to show you how to become a resilient leader and how you can rise again, stronger, bolder and more focused than ever before. Don't count yourself out. You are closer than you think. The Rise and Lead podcast is designed specifically to motivate and equip you to live your greatest life with maximum impact. We are going to find out what makes great leaders great and how you can start growing yourself, rise, expanding your impact, lead and living the life you have been created to live. You know this already, but we are stronger together and I want to invite you to be a Rise and Lead partner in spreading the word about this podcast and all the episodes that will follow, so together we can reach more people. Remember to subscribe so you can get all the episodes that release every month.
Speaker 1:Rate the podcast I'm always going for a five-star rating. If you think that Rise and Lead deserves five stars, I would greatly appreciate that. Leave a written review if you haven't done so already. Your reviews. They make a huge difference. And finally, share about Rise and Lead with your family, your friends and your social media network. Screenshot this episode all about grit and resilience and send it to someone and text someone the episode link. You are helping people rise to their next level by connecting them to an episode. And when you share about the podcast as a social media post or story, make sure you tag me and I will always try and give you a repost. Your input, ratings, reviews and shares help our team to continue creating a better podcast experience to serve great leaders like you.
Speaker 1:If this is your first time listening, I'm so glad you're here. I know your time is valuable. I would encourage you to go back and listen to the Rise and Lead Foundation episode so you can hear more about my story and the five foundational pillars of the podcast. I like to start with prayers, so let's pray together. God, many listening have already written off what is possible. The promises feel far away and the courage is fading fast. Use this episode in a profound way to re-anchor us as leaders with a new perspective, new hope and new tools. In your name, we pray amen.
Speaker 1:Let me start with this. One day you're going to look back and say that season almost broke me, but God carried me. There was no roadmap, no backup plan, just faith, a prayer and the strength to take one more step. Let that sit for a moment. Don't assume your story is done. Don't live and lead as if this is the last chapter, and don't define your whole story by the chapter you are in right now. Your whole story by the chapter you are in right now, because I know some of you listening right now feel like that's your exact reality. You're exhausted, you're overwhelmed. You've been faithful, but things aren't moving fast enough. Things don't feel like they're working out and your courage to keep going is fading. That breakthrough hasn't happened yet. The doors feel shut. You've prayed, you've believed and still nothing. But I want to tell you something you are closer than you think. God is not done. He's not even nervous. He's moving behind the scenes and your job is not to see the whole picture. Your job is to keep walking in faith, keep leading in faith, keep getting back up again and again in faith and keep taking that next step of faith. You want a case study of what it looks like to lead with faith, grit and resilience.
Speaker 1:Think about Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt. The Israelites have just been freed from slavery. God brought them out of Egypt, but now they're standing at the Red Sea. Pharaoh's army is behind them. The sea is in front of them. There is no plan B. It looks like a setup for failure, but it was actually a setup for God's glory. And here is what Moses said as a leader standing with faith, grip and resilience, do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. God didn't part the sea when they were still in Egypt. He waited until they were trapped, until they had no choice but to trust him completely. Sometimes God won't give you options because he wants your obedience over options. Let me say that again Sometimes God won't give you options because he wants your obedience over options. Here's the important life and leadership lesson Just because you don't see a way forward doesn't mean God isn't about to make one.
Speaker 1:Another biblical case study that comes to mind is the story and journey of Joseph, and if I were going to give a title to this narrative, it might be Grit in the Pit. Let's talk about Joseph the dreamer, the young man with favor, a future and a God-given vision. But instead of promotion, he got betrayal, false accusations and years of silence. Joseph was only 17 when he had the dreams about his future and instead of people celebrating him, his own brothers threw him in a pit and sold him as a slave. I want to insert this right here so you can be prepared for it if it happens.
Speaker 1:There are times when the people closest to you will not understand and appreciate the dreams that God has for your life, and this often happens because other people are not anchored and rooted in their own identity, worth and value, and so your dreams are actually threatening to them. People who don't value themselves or people who have given up on their own dream don't want to hear about your dream. I hope you hear my heart on this. Don't give up on your dream simply because the people around you don't understand and appreciate it. Let this sink in. With everything Joseph had going on the betrayal, the accusations, the years of silence, being sold into slavery, being thrown into a pit, joseph never stopped trusting God and with every challenge, with every setback, he kept getting back up in faith again and again.
Speaker 1:Here is Joseph's grit timeline Joseph is thrown in a pit, sold into slavery. He rises in Potiphar's house only to be falsely accused of rape and thrown into prison. He interprets dreams for fellow prisoners but is forgotten for another two years. He finally stands before Pharaoh and is promoted to second in command over all of Egypt. He forgives his brothers and then he declares what you meant for evil, god meant for good. Joseph's story wasn't a straight path to leadership. It was a master class in grit, integrity and long haul faith. He had every reason to give up betrayed by his family, lied about, imprisoned, unfairly, forgotten by the very people he helped, but through it all, he remained faithful. He worked with excellence and he never stopped believing that God was still in control.
Speaker 1:Joseph's story teaches us this your delay is not your denial, your pit is not your prism, and your faithfulness in the dark season is preparing you for the influence God has already planned for you. He didn't let bitterness win, he didn't let victimhood define him, and when his moment came, he was ready, not just with a gift, but with the character to sustain the gift. If Joseph was alive today, this is what I think he'd tell you Don't quit in the pit, don't compromise in the prism, don't let your current situation convince you that God has forgotten you. In fact, joseph's entire life proves this one truth God doesn't waste pain. He uses it to position you, and maybe the very place that looks like a setback right now is where God is refining you to carry something greater than you ever imagined. Don't let the length of your struggle make you forget that God can change everything in a moment. Let me say this to you right now you are not forgotten. You are not behind. You are not disqualified. Your faith is not in vain. Every prayer, every act of obedience, every time you chose faith over fear, it's been seen and God is not going to waste any of it.
Speaker 1:The truth is, leaders who achieve great things aren't always the most talented, but they are the ones who don't quit. They show up, they stay committed, they push through resistance and hardship. Resilient leaders are the ones who don't just weather the storms, they rise through them. In a world full of pressure, setbacks, criticism and constant change, resilience is what separates those who quit from those who lead with lasting impact. A resilient leader doesn't deny the pain. They endure it, learn from it and grow through it. They carry the weight of responsibility without letting it crush their spirit. They hold the vision steady even when the path is unclear and when others look around for strength, direction and hope. They become it. Resilience isn't just about bouncing back. It's about rising with wisdom, faith and clarity. The world doesn't need more perfect leaders. It needs more resilient leaders, leaders who are unshakable, not because life is easy, but because their foundation is deep.
Speaker 1:In one of the most well-known studies on grit and resilience, dr Angela Duckworth and her research team followed over 1,200 cadets at the US Military Academy at West Point. Every year, west Point admits cadets based on a rigorous selection process including SAT scores, physical aptitude and leadership potential. But here's what they found physical aptitude and leadership potential but here's what they found. Grit, not IQ, physical ability or leadership scores, was the strongest predictor of who successfully completed the intense summer training program known as Beast Barracks. Here were some of the key research findings Grit was more predictive of success than talent or intelligence. Cadets who scored higher on grit were 60% more likely to complete the training than those with higher test scores but lower grit. This study proved that perseverance and passion for long-term goals outweighed almost every other factor of natural ability. Let me tie this in to the two case studies of Moses and Joseph.
Speaker 1:God doesn't just promote the most gifted, he promotes the most faithful. Let me say that again God doesn't just promote the most gifted, he promotes the most faithful. This study supports a spiritual truth Grit is faith with boots on it. Grit is what keeps you going when you're tired. Unseen and uncelebrated, grit says God's not finished with me, so I won't quit now.
Speaker 1:Grit is perseverance plus passion. People who achieve great things aren't always the most talented, but they are the ones who don't quit. They show up, they stay committed, they push through resistance and hardship. You don't need to be the smartest person in the room, you just need to be the one who refuses to give up. Grit correlates with deliberate practice. Do hard things on purpose to improve over time. Grit isn't just passion. It's passion combined with repeated action that stretches and develops capability. Grit is most sustainable when tied to a deep sense of purpose, particularly when that purpose benefits others. People who see their struggle as meaningful are more likely to persist and less likely to burn out. Grit is a protective factor for anxiety and depression. Here's the bottom line talent opens doors, but grit keeps you in the room. Here's my own translation of James, chapter one, verse four Let grit finish its work so that you may be a mature leader who lacks nothing. Let's get real practical. Here are seven suggestions as a strategy to help you build grit. Get back up and keep going, especially when the calling feels heavy and the road gets hard.
Speaker 1:Number one anchor your identity daily. Grit starts with knowing who you are and whose you are. Begin every day by declaring your identity out loud I am a child of God, I am called, I am equipped, I am not alone. Read and meditate on scripture. This is how you fight internal doubt before the day begins. Number two embrace the hard and the difficult. Don't avoid it. Grit is forged in adversity, not comfort. Let me say that again Grit is forged in adversity, not comfort. Identify one hard task you've been avoiding. Have the conversation, plan the message, restructure the initiative. Do it today. Then celebrate the action, not just the outcome. Growth happens when we choose discomfort on purpose.
Speaker 1:Number three develop a grit ritual. Habits reinforce your mental toughness. Think about creating a 10-minute daily grit routine. Spend three minutes and reflect on a past win and or success God has brought you through. Spend another three minutes visualizing yourself meeting all the challenges of the day and persevering through every one, and then spend the final four minutes journaling about one gritty step that you'll take today and then pray for strength and take that step. This small discipline builds resilience over time.
Speaker 1:Number four talk to yourself. Don't just listen to yourself. Your internal dialogue determines your endurance. Write down three grit-building affirmations and recite them when you feel overwhelmed. Here are a few examples. I've come way too far to quit now. God's not finished with me yet, or this season is preparing me for what I prayed for. Number five train your mindset like a muscle.
Speaker 1:Resilient leaders don't just have faith, they have focus. I want you to fast from negativity. Set a seven-day challenge to eliminate all complaining, all blaming or dwelling on worst-case scenarios. Replace that with prayer, positive and empowering conversation and solutions-based thinking. Number six don't isolate. Get around grit. Grit is contagious. Isolate. Get around grit. Grit is contagious.
Speaker 1:Reach out to one or two other leaders who've walked through fire and stayed faithful. Schedule a 30-minute call and ask what helped you. Keep going when you wanted to quit and give up. Their story might be the breakthrough you need If you wanna be a leader who has more grit. You need to get around people who have more grit. There are some of you who are wanting a breakthrough, but you're not willing to break up your circle. You got to get around different people if you want to experience a different life.
Speaker 1:And finally, number seven keep showing up. Grit is less about intensity and more about consistency. Let me say that again Grit is less about intensity and more about consistency. No matter how you feel, show up, remind yourself. Obedience is my responsibility. Outcomes are God's responsibility. As we wrap up this episode, give God what you can't control, handle what you can and keep showing up because your breakthrough is close.
Speaker 1:Keep walking. He's still writing the story. I know you're tired. I know you've been waiting, working, praying and wondering if your breakthrough will ever come. I know you're asking God did I miss it? Did I mess it up? Is it too late? But hear me, you are closer than you think.
Speaker 1:Don't let the silence fool you. Don't let the delay define you. Don't let the pit convince you that the palace of potential isn't still a possibility. Like Joseph, you may have been overlooked, betrayed, falsely accused and forgotten, but you haven't been forsaken. Like the Israelites, you may feel trapped with no way forward, but God parts the seas at the last second, and all the research in the world confirms what the Bible has been teaching us from the beginning.
Speaker 1:It's not about being the most talented, it's about being the most faithful. Your grit matters, your obedience matters, your perseverance matters. So stand up, wipe those tears, speak life over yourself again. Don't quit, don't back down, don't shrink back, because God is still writing your story and he is not finished yet. What you're walking through, it's not pointless, it's preparation. The pit is shaping you, the prison, it may be humbling you, the delay is building you and the day is coming when you'll look back and say that season almost broke me, but God carried me, he made a way, he opened the door, he used it all. So today, do what Joseph did, be excellent where you are, stay close to God and keep walking by faith, because your breakthrough is not far off. You're not just going to survive this. You're going to rise and lead through this. You're going to rise and lead through this. I believe in you but, more importantly, god is with you and God believes in you.
Speaker 1:I hope this episode impacted and inspired you. Send me a DM and let me know. I read every message that comes in. Make sure you screenshot this episode, share it with someone and post it to your social media accounts. Don't forget to tag me so I can give you a repost. I know there is someone you know who needs to hear this episode. Thanks for sharing, subscribing and rating the podcast. Seriously, that means the world to me. Look for new episodes to release every month. You won't want to miss those. Thank you for taking the time to invest in yourself. You are worth it. Remember the best time to rise and lead is now. Thank you.