Common. Old. Used. Repetitive. Not the words that evoke excitement. New. Fresh. Instant. Premier. Now those sound a bit more interesting, right? Nothing against new, but it’s what we do with the “same old”—same old shoes, same old job, same old friends—that will deliver on the causes we care for most. To the outsider, David’s commitment to protecting his father’s sheep, may have seemed a waste of time compared to his calling of being the next king of Israel. Yet the monotony and obscurity proved to be a training ground that propelled him to his victory against Goliath. His mission was not a short term project, so he couldn’t approach it with short term solutions. Nor could he be discouraged by the naysayers. There were levels to his defining moment that needed to be built with the “same old”—same old sling, same old determination, same old faith. To play the long game we must understand that nothing is wasted with God, even what we find mundane. Each step has a purpose, each day has a meaning, and the longer we play the greater the results. God gives us all a just cause worthy of maintaining our stamina. David was a prime example of someone who lived his life with a cause, and when he kept his sights on his God-given calling without taking shortcuts, he won his battles.  

Victory is not for those who go the hardest, but the longest. Play the long game.

1. Manage the Monotony

The best leaders are those who show up, live intentionally, defend the weak, and give of themselves. Yet, monotony may be the greatest challenge to these qualities. It can be easy to quit, especially when we feel overlooked and undervalued, but consider it strength training. With consistent preparation we will be able to perform best when it counts.

2. Clarify the Calling

Sometimes the onslaught of criticism will have you wondering, like David, “Now what have I done?” This is when knowing and standing on your cause matters most. It will fortify you against the negativity and prevent you from awkwardly shifting into someone else’s calling. Know that with your specific talents, gifts, and personality traits, God doesn’t make you one way to use you in another.

On the other side of every victory will be more battles. Just ask David. But remember, any cause worth fighting for will be battle-tested, it’s how we prepare for those battles that will determine our outcomes. We don’t have to go out looking for a miracle, God has already given us what we need to succeed. Our goal is not to just look like Christ-followers with the Bible in hand, but to be Christ-followers with the Bible in our hearts. Daily we live out God’s truths for the sake of bringing the broken home. Let’s make good use of those truths privately in order to win publicly, doing so not with trophies in mind for ourselves but for generations to come. In this long game, don’t lose heart when obstacles arise, go and fight. We don’t just have a cause, we have the greatest cause.