Toughness

I want to examine a word we don't hear enough in the church. Toughness. Not just physical toughness. Not fake swagger. Not puffed-up pride. I'm talking about spiritual toughness. The kind that doesn't fold when life squeezes. The kind that gets up after being knocked down. The kind that can take a hit—and still trust God.

We're living in a world where many people are soft on the inside. We've got talent, intelligence, and opportunity—but when pressure comes, we crumble. We make excuses. We look for comfort. We search for a way out instead of standing strong in the Lord. So let me ask you straight up: How tough are you? And maybe the better question is: How tough do you want to be?

That's what this booklet is about. It's about discovering a kind of toughness that isn't rooted in personality or performance—but in the power of the Holy Spirit. The kind of toughness that looks like Jesus on the cross—silent, steady, surrendered, and unbreakably strong. 

You're going to meet some people in these pages. A world-class runner. An apostle in prison. A martyred missionary. A pastor who said something he shouldn't have. And above them all—the Son of God, hanging between heaven and earth, bloodied but undefeated.

Ron Brown has a long-standing association with Husker football, having served as an assistant coach for 24 seasons. He became the Director of Player Support and Outreach for Nebraska football in 2018 before assuming his current role of coaching punt returners, fullbacks and assisting the running backs coach. He co-founded Kingdom Sports in 2018 and has been a well-known speaker at FCA and churches throughout his career.