The Daily Habits That Build Grit

Modern life doesn’t demand much grit. Few of us grow our own food. Even fewer of us prepare for combat. And while we might jog or lift weights, most of our day-to-day challenges are more digital than physical.

Yet Scripture calls us to a kind of spiritual toughness what older generations would call grit. And to illustrate this, the Apostle Paul points to three roles almost foreign to us today: the soldier, the athlete, and the farmer (2 Timothy 2:1–7). Each one models something we desperately need in our faith journeys: endurance.

In a world that runs from discomfort, avoids hard work, and prefers instant results, we need these examples more than ever.

The Soldier: Focus and Discipline

Paul tells Timothy, “Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 2:3). Soldiers operate under clear orders and pursue objectives that often come with personal sacrifice. The soldier’s focus is singular. “No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him” (v. 4).

In other words, faith requires focus. Distractions, comfort, and compromise will always compete for our attention. But a disciple of Jesus learns, over time, to let go of the trivial for the sake of the eternal. We’re not civilians in this spiritual battle. We’re enlisted. Our goal is to please the One who called us.

Like soldiers, we don’t serve alone. We train and fight alongside others. Christianity was never meant to be a solo mission. We need the church our battalion for strength, accountability, and courage.

The Farmer: Patience and Perseverance

Next, Paul mentions the farmer: “It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops” (v. 6). Farming isn’t glamorous. It’s slow, repetitive, and demands trust in things outside your control like the rain.

But it’s also incredibly rewarding.

Farmers teach us to invest consistently, even when there’s no immediate result. They remind us that fruitfulness doesn’t come overnight. James echoes this truth when he says, “See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient… You also, be patient” (James 5:7–8).

Christian growth is slow growth. There will be seasons of sowing, watering, weeding and waiting. But those who persevere, like the farmer, will one day reap a harvest of righteousness (Galatians 6:9).

The Athlete: Training and Self-Control

Paul turns to the athlete and says, “An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules” (2 Timothy 2:5). Athletes don’t just show up on game day they train relentlessly. They submit to a schedule, a coach, and a discipline that prioritizes the long-term prize over short-term comfort.

In the same way, spiritual maturity requires training. Paul says in 1 Timothy 4:7–8, “Train yourself for godliness.” That word “train” is the same root for our word “gymnasium.” It implies sweat, repetition, and pushing through resistance.

And like athletes, we must stay within the “rules” the boundaries set by God’s Word. No shortcuts. No cutting corners. No claiming the prize without running the race.

As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 9:25–27, “Every athlete exercises self-control in all things… So I discipline my body and keep it under control.”

The Reward Is Real

What keeps soldiers, farmers, and athletes going? The reward. The harvest. The victory. The crown.

Paul understood this deeply. He said, “So run that you may obtain [the prize]” (1 Corinthians 9:24). He wasn’t shy about motivating believers with the promise of reward. And neither was Jesus.

In fact, Jesus lived with the reward in view “For the joy that was set before him, [he] endured the cross” (Hebrews 12:2). The joy of returning to the Father, of redeeming His bride, and of completing the mission fueled His endurance through suffering.

When our eyes are fixed on Christ and the joy set before us, we find strength to persevere even when it’s hard. Especially when it’s hard.

The Grit of Christ

But here’s what makes Christian grit unique we press on not to earn Jesus, but because He already earned us.

Paul says in Philippians 3:12, “I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.” The order matters. Christ’s perfect grit His obedience, suffering, and victory secures our identity. That’s the foundation of our effort.

We don’t strive from insecurity, but from security. We’re not earning love we’re responding to it.

Building Habits of Grit

So how do we develop this spiritual grit?

• Recognize your calling. You’ve been enlisted. You’re in a race. You’re sowing for a harvest. Treat your life like it matters because it does.

• Embrace training. Don’t expect growth without resistance. Let Scripture, prayer, community, and obedience shape your daily rhythm.

• Don’t quit when it’s hard. Faithfulness often feels like fatigue. Keep going. Keep sowing. The reward is coming.

• Look to Jesus. Your strength comes not from yourself but from the One who finished His race and promises to finish what He started in you.

Christian grit isn’t about being tough for toughness’s sake. It’s about enduring for the joy set before us the reward of Christ Himself.

If this stirred something in you, share it with a friend who’s in the thick of the fight. Or subscribe to our newsletter to receive more strength-for-the-journey articles like this.