Those Who Will Prevail

As 2020 comes to an end and a new year begins, let us reflect on our blessings with a grateful heart. The late Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon, co-founder of Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU), often spoke of absolute faith, absolute love, and absolute obedience to God. He and his wife Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon impressed an unwavering commitment to our Creator and Heavenly Parent, and His divine plan for each of us and all of humanity. 

Let us share this precious gift of gratitude and faith with others and plant seeds of hope. Though the COVID-19 pandemic caused great illness, hardship, and loss for many people around the world this year, those who prevail over such trials keep faith in God.

Below is an excerpt from Rev. Moon’s speech “Those Who Will Prevail,” given March 12, 1975 in Barrytown, New York.

Speech excerpt:

“Let us be ones who will prevail. History is proof that evil men just as well as good men are remembered by posterity long after their life on Earth. To be remembered by people in later generations means that what was done and what was left for the benefit of people are remembered. 

Let’s take the example of Jesus. In his own day, nobody thought that what he did was going to be remembered by later generations, so people persecuted him. In Christianity, or in any other religion, what the members of the religions did was for the benefit of mankind, centered on God’s Will. That’s why their deeds are remembered until now. They had power to overcome any difficulties and hardship. The power of faith in God is what made it possible. 

In history, the more society would oppose the religious people, the more dynamic the religious people became in their deeds. If you put pressure on those religious people, they show great vitality. The same thing applies to our everyday life. Stronger and more courageous people will remain and survive persecution and difficulty. Those kinds of people will rise again and again after much oppression. 

As you all remember, Christianity was so strong that its people fought against oppressing powers in the face of difficulties and persecutions; they worked underground to survive, and they prevailed… 

When difficulties come, you must grow sideways, on the horizontal base. You become tougher and tougher under oppression; and smaller, but harder. Or, you can dig into the ground, and grow there. Then after the preparation period underground, you can sprout again with more dynamic power… You must have strength of character and power of life, as a tree or any plant will grow despite the pressure of rocks. 

For those people united with the Will of God, difficult situations and rebuffs are a greater challenge. You can survive and you can utilize bad situations like fertilizer to nourish a plant. You must remember that it was not the Roman soldiers, but Jesus’s own disciples who betrayed him and put him to the cross… You must be able to love even your enemies, because that is the tactic for survival… Those who will prevail through difficulties, do so with God.”

To you and your family, a happy and safe new year!

You can read Rev. Moon’s full speech here.

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