Perseverance

What does this word "perseverance" mean? Does it mean that you run until you get tired? That you stand only until your feet hurt? That you hold up that responsibility only long enough to outlast the guy next to you?

Let me introduce you to Scrat, a fictional, saber toothed squirrel, who finds his life purpose in chasing after this nut. No matter what problems come his way and want to eat him, mame him or chase him, he does not lose his desire or hope in attaining the goal of capturing and eating the nut. Scrat is a wonderful picture of perseverance.



per⋅se⋅ver⋅ance  [pur-suh-veer-uhns]
steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., esp. in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement.

Perseverance does not even begin until your feet are sore, your back is hurting, the rope is cutting through your hand, and the load just seems impossible to carry. I think the closest understanding I have ever seen to what true perseverance looks like was found in watching one of my friends walk through a debilitating disease. Even though it was full of pain and promises of death, she stepped out of bed each day and played the role of wife and mother. Yes, there were some days where getting out of bed for took a little longer than the day before. But she pushed through, lifted her face to God for strength, and persevered through her day. I have always liked the verse out of Ephesians 6 that tells us to stand firm, and when you have done all that you can do to stand and are getting tired of standing, then stand some more. Jesus gave us a great example to follow. No matter what he faced while on this earth He would go to his Father, our God, for strength, wisdom and perspective. When He was about to face His most difficult challenge, the cross, He submitted His life to the will of the Father and asked for strength.

Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:4

So many times I get to the place where I want to panic due to my weakness and lack of faith. It is like holding your breath under water. At first you feel confident and everything seems easy. But as time passes and it doesn’t seem that a breath of fresh air is on its way, our minds try to take over and tell us to panic. It is in these moments that I challenge you and encourage you to close your eyes and allow your faith in the promises of God to take over rather than the emotions that are telling you to be afraid and freak out.

This scripture also helps us answer what I have found to be the toughest questions. The questions of “Why me?”, and “Why did God allow this to happen?”. We are made complete by being broken and reassembled. It is a difficult process to fully grasp and or appreciate, but in all of my reading of scripture, experiences in life, and time spent with the Lord, I have found that perseverance is the equation to completeness. This does not mean that we have a God that is sitting there watching us, just dreaming up ways to sabotage our plans so we can learn to push through. It means that we live in a broken world and the Lord will use everything that comes your way to break you down and teach you how to trust in Him. For it is in that trust that completeness and godly maturity is found.

Dear Lord, please give us the strength to be strong and courageous as we face each obstacle that this life throws our way. Like the definition of perseverance states, please help us not quit when we are discouraged, but to take that time to dig deep and submit our lives once again to you. In that hour where we want to run and hide, please help us run and hide in your arms, as it is the only place we will find hope, acceptance, and strength. Amen