“And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” [2 Corinthians 3:18].
Often we miss the undeniable work of God because we give up too soon. Perseverance is often the only thing that separates failure from success. Life is a gauntlet that requires determination. Yes, I am finally going to tackle the subject that has caused so many “discussions” [for lack of a better term] between my wife and I … my old standby references to MTXE … that old acronym that used to adorn the sidelines of the Wichita State University Shockers’ basketball court in the 1980s meaning ‘Mental Toughness Xtra Effort,' exhorting the team to never ever give up and to persevere to the bitter end … over the thirty years of our relationship. This is something she sees as decidedly unspiritual and residing squarely in the flesh, and something that, while I’ll acknowledge her concern theoretically, I see as distinctly spiritual and as a matter of ultimate faith. So we’ll see over the next two blogs whether or not I can make my case.
Perseverance is more than just waiting. It is about how and why we wait. It is the ability to stand and thrive under pressure.
Sometimes we should close the chapter on an enterprise, but some things we must never quit. Projects can be dispensed with; virtues are indispensable. If we treat who we are as being of the same quality as what we do, we are structured for failure. It is easier to replace a lost wallet, and sadly, I have some experience with this, than it is to regain our integrity.
The wisdom of God comes like a gift, yet it is a gift born out of the womb of perseverance. Wisdom is nurtured and formed in the context of trials and temptations. For wisdom to be forged properly in our hearts, it requires us to stand the pressure cooker of life. God will give wisdom generously to all who ask, but that promise is preceded by a description of the journey we all must take [James 1:2-5]. Thus, perseverance becomes the necessary link to wisdom.
Perseverance has multiple dimensions. In the Scriptures the same word can be translated as “endurance” or even “patience.” When we hold out for the good our perseverance is expressed as patience. When we hold on to the good, our perseverance is expressed as endurance.
To persevere requires wisdom in the process, and it also grows us in wisdom through the process. When we do not persevere, we do not grow in wisdom. Whenever God places us in circumstances where perseverance is critical, He is trying to birth wisdom in us. When we circumvent the process, it is a miscarriage of wisdom.
Patience ensures that we do not move faster than God. Waiting on God requires that we continue to do what is right even when our situation does not change. Patience holds out for the good [2 Peter 3:8-9]. Suffering must not be used as an excuse for impatience [James 5:10-11]. Endurance ensures that we do not lose our strength before the task is done. Endurance holds on to the good.
Great suffering can accompany a life entirely given to God. Perseverance is both the resolve to be patient and the commitment to endure. Perseverance finds the good in the worst of circumstances. Joy and suffering are bound together in the Scriptures. Suffering is not a virtue; it is a reality. We are not to pursue suffering; suffering will certainly pursue us. And while suffering is not the source of our joy, it is not to be a joyless setting. Trials are not the source of joy, but trials are where we can find our greatest opportunities for joy. When we belong to God, trials become both a reminder of our need for God and a promise that God will meet us in the midst of them. If God is our greatest pleasure, then trials can become our greatest joys. The key to experiencing this ultimate joy becomes perseverance. Jesus gives us the best insight into the relationship between suffering and joy. It was not for the joy of the cross that Jesus allowed Himself to be crucified, it was for the joy He could see through the cross [Hebrews 12:2].
Followers of Christ suffer just like everyone else [Romans 5:1-5]. The pain is just as real, the disappointment just as deep, the tears just as profound. Yet it is how we face suffering that is quite different. God allows us to see through the suffering. We rejoice through the suffering knowing that our pain is not without meaning. We persevere with the confidence that we ourselves are being transformed. Perseverance produces character and character, hope. And hope is the ultimate gift gained in wisdom.
-- To be continued --
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