2 Kings 13:19
And the man of God was wroth with him, and said, Thou shouldest have smitten five or six times; then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou hadst consumed it: whereas now thou shalt smite Syria but thrice. And the man of God was wroth with him, and said, Thou shouldest have smitten five or six times; then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou hadst consumed it: whereas now thou shalt smite Syria but thrice.
It was the closing counsel and encouragement given by Elisha to King Joash. The three strokes struck upon the ground foretold only three victories over Syria. Five or six strokes would have signified smiting Syria till it was consumed in complete defeat.
Stopping after three strokes revealed too little faith and perseverance to receive the full deliverance that had been promised. When God opens the way for a task and assures and promises success, those entrusted with the work must carry it out with sustained devotion, courage, zeal, and perseverance. The success granted is proportionate to the energy and perseverance they put forth.