Perseverance

It's just not one of those words that makes you feel all "warm and fuzzy" inside, is it? And why should it? The definition itself suggests that if one is persevering, circumstances are perhaps, less than ideal. Let's take a look at said definition:

Persevere: to persist in anything undertaken; maintain a purpose in spite of difficulty, obstacles, or discouragement; continue steadfastly.

Perseverance seems to almost always go hand in hand with patience in my life; another thing I'm not very good at. Having grown up in this "cyber generation" where everything is literally at our fingertips and downloads within seconds, waiting things out in "real time" has become an ongoing challenge. If we don't have results instantaneously, we feel like results aren't coming, (or at least I do). My attitudes about patience carry over even into the time I spend reading in the Word. I've been reading through the book of 2 Kings and I get so frustrated with Israel. King after king, after king comes onto the scene. Some do good in the eyes of the Lord, others do evil, but even those who do good fail to remove the high places that Jeroboam, son of Nebat put into place. (He's the guy who put up the two idols of the golden calves and lead Israel astray into worshiping them even though God explicitly instructed them not to worship any other gods or idols.) I found myself getting so frustrated as I read. Each section would talk about these kings and the things they accomplished during the time of their reign, and each and every one stated the same thing; "But they did not turn away from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, which he had caused Israel to commit; they continued in them". I kept reading in hopes that somebody would come onto the scene and finally set things right. I finished the book yesterday and alas... nobody was able to come through for me. Now I know that the entire Bible is a picture of God's ever tumultuous relationship with Israel, or Israel's ever tumultuous relationship with God, rather. You read on and they are in an endless cycle of repentance and rebellion from start to finish. We're still in that cycle as followers of Jesus Christ today. One thing that really stands out to me is how many chances God gives to the people of Israel despite their blatant disregard for His commands before he finally does deport them from their land as an act of discipline and (what I would imagine as) a means of getting their attention again. He doesn't give up on them as a people when they don't get everything right all at once. The progress they make may be minute, but he regards it as progress nonetheless and continues to show them grace and patience as they work out all the other kinks.

God demonstrates the same kind of patience with us in our lives and part of our journey as believers who are being ever transformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ is to grow in patience and other fruits of the spirit; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:21-23). Now, I don't know about you, but I certainly regard practicing patience as an act of suffering. God's word teaches us that we are to "rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." (Romans 5: 3-4).

One conclusion that I have drawn from my recent readings in Scripture is that anything that is worth having is worth waiting for. The reason God is always so patient with us as a people is because he knows the value of the relationship he has with us. Not because of anything we've done or because we are so wonderful, but simply because he loves us. We ought to take a cue from God and learn how to wait things out in our own lives from time to time. Things may not always turn out exactly the way you would like them to exactly when you would like to see the results, but the fact that the end result has not yet arrived doesn't diminish the progress that is being made every single day.

A small victory is still a victory. A baby step still brings you a little closer to the finish line than you were before you took it. Let the little things each day encourage you rather than focusing on the big thing that has not yet come to pass. Romans 12:12 tells us to "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer". Having said that, I leave you with this final piece of scripture;


" He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones." (Proverbs 2:7-8)

A world of opportunity....

It seems that God may be getting ready to open up some pretty incredible doors in my life. I'm not going to disclose too much information about this all just yet, simply because I want to be careful to ensure that my heart remains in line with God's will for me right now. I don't want to get distracted or have sharing some of this end up being confused for bragging about it, or anything like that. I will simply say this.....

An opportunity may be coming up for me very soon. An opportunity to serve in full time ministry. An opportunity to worship God through music, missions and every day service and surrender to his son Jesus Christ.

Please be praying for me in this. Monday, May 25th is the magic day. I promise, I will share more information when I feel the time is right... in the mean time... God knows all the details. :)