Tag Archives: Perseverance

This too will pass

 

This too shall pass.

 

We say this when we’re going through tough times. It reminds us to hold on to hope that our trials will not last forever. It teaches us to not take the good times for granted.

 

While “this to will pass” is not found in the bible, the concept is a common thread throughout biblical teaching. The writer of Ecclesiastes says, “For every thing there is a season and a time for everything under heaven.” Whatever you are experiencing now, be it happiness or sorrow, pleasure or pain, it will not last; it too will pass with time.

 

I remember thinking between my second and third rounds of chemo that my innards would never heal. The chemo wreaked havoc on my mouth, esophagus, stomach and intestines. After two months of daily pain I wondered if this was to be my new normal. But in time, the pain passed. Even as different pains replaced it, I remember being thankful not to have to endure the same pain for a third month.

 

Yet sometimes the same pain or sorrow DOES last for seasons, years, or even a lifetime. What are we to say then? Paul suffered some ongoing ‘thorn in his side.’ After considerable prayer he moved on, accepting it would continue. Still he wrote that his troubles were small compared to the glory that awaits us. In other words, pain and sorrow doesn’t last forever for the follower of Christ. That may seem impossible to grasp when the pain is so intense and when the darkness of the night seems it will never give way to morning. But this too will pass. In fact, Paul writes that not only will our present troubles pass, but they are actually working to create this new glory. Our troubles are the building material that creates future glory. We understand that hard work and perseverance create accomplishments. We can grasp that loving acts build up loving relationships. But pain building up greatness and glory?

 

Glory isn’t a word we often use in every day conversation. It might help to think of it as being held in highest honor. What kind of honor do you think is built up by your suffering? Could it be the honor of faithfulness, perseverance amongst trials, or simple obedience to do what God says? Or is it the magnificent and radiant glory of the perfect God who lives in you, joining you to himself, to his glory?

 

Whatever you face today, turn your eyes from that circumstance and focus on the goodness yet to be revealed by God. Let his presence calm you, his grace sustain you, and his promises give you great hope. . . because this too will pass.

 

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4: 17-18

 

 

Patience – Perseverance – Prayer

 

 

We all want to be patient, but we want it right now! Folks have probably warned you, “Don’t pray for patience because God will give you trials to bring it about!” Trials can be an effective way to bring us to consider patience, but how many times in your life do they bring grumbling and resentment instead?

 

The truth is, our life was not designed to be one of self-indulgence and comfort. This short span on earth, relative to all eternity, is full of trials. Read through the New Testament and find that every book  deals with some aspect of trials, suffering, or other woes! Beyond just a learning experience, it is part of our call to follow Jesus:  “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.” 1 Peter 2:21

 

But that doesn’t leave us to despair, but to hope, because when we are squeezed by all sorts of trials, it brings the opportunity for God’s power to be revealed in us. That is James’ encouragement to us in chapter five. We’re called to be patient. Not just to wait until we get what we want, but to be patient for the Lord’s coming, when our trials and sorrows end.

 

We’re called to patient with each other. It is how we express our love to God Himself. Jesus said our purpose in life is to love God and love others, that others will know we are His disciples if we love one another.  And so James confirms this: “Don’t grumble against one another.”

 

Patience and perseverance are twin sisters. We can persevere because we practice patience. Likewise persevering helps us to be patient – with ourselves and with others.  Perseverance keeps on loving, keeps on hoping, keeps on waiting with expectation. Hope is for the future but faith is revealed in the moment. Perseverance reflects our real faith.

 

Where do we get such a persevering, patient faith?  We pray. If your prayer seems like a waste of time or a mundane routine to be endured, don’t believe it. The prayer of one fully committed to God, is effective. Ask for wisdom, strength, and courage to draw closer to Him so you can persevere. He will show you the way, one trial at a time, one moment at a time.  It’s a daily cycle: pursue patience, perseverance, and effective prayer.

 

“Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.” James 5:7-11 (excerpts)

Keys to enduring the journey

Sometimes, life is tough. Real struggles make our journey difficult and painful. Imaginary ones confound our life experience. The old hymn, “Trust and Obey,” sums up our hope but how do we bear up in practical ways day by day, moment by moment? One way is to remind ourselves that we have ONE life to live, and it is a life that goes on forever. Living a forever Kingdom Life instead of one just focused on circumstances elevates us beyond our fears and anxieties. 1 Peter 5:6-10 offers practical guidance.

V. 6-7. “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

There is a fight under way to remove the phrase “under God” from the pledge of allegiance. But key to enduring our journey amidst pain and sorrow, fear and anxiety, is to humble ourselves under God. Submission to His will frees us from the imprisonment of our own efforts and our own fears. Our faith promises He cares for us and will lift us up, so shouldn’t we live today as if we believe it?

V. 8-9. “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”

Wake up. There is a real enemy. We cannot fight him in our own strength, but only through humbling ourselves before God and standing in our faith, protected with spiritual armor of faith, truth, peace, the Holy Spirit, and the assurance of salvation. You are not alone in your suffering. God sees you where you are and gives you other believers to share your load.

V. 10.  “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”

Steadfast means to remain resolute, committed,loyal, true to the faith God has given you, fully persuaded, trusting Him.

Life is tough. But this life on earth isn’t forever. As Francis Chan illustrates: Imagine a long rope that goes on forever. Now imagine the end of the rope that you hold, that last couple inches, representing your entire life on earth, 70,80, maybe 90 years. Most of our worries and fears and efforts are focused on this tiny piece of the rope’s beginning. But how much of our thought and ambition is focused on the part of the rope (our life) that goes on forever? Chan says, “I can endure anything for a mere 90 years!”

90 years of MY pain and suffering? Humble yourself before your God, receive His sufficient grace and power, and experience His persevering Spirit alive in you. Even as you take each sip of cool water to refresh your body, invite God’s Spirit to refresh your soul and experience the power to endure the difficult journey.

What mountains do you face?

One of the highlights of our recent memory maker trip was to hike in the mountains. I ended up being sick most of the trip, but God allowed sufficient strength and short breaks from the illness to take two hikes, one in the Organ Mountains near Las Cruces, New Mexico and after a few days’ rest, another in the Franklin Mountains outside of El Paso. Neither would normally be extremely difficult climbs but they both provided challenge for this Leukemic body.

??????????My sister took a photo of me on an easy part of the hike and facing “my mountain.” She thought it symbolic of the challenges we face and our necessity for perseverance in the journey. I was simply trying to enjoy the beauty of God’s creation while finding the balance between pushing myself to a goal and not overdoing it.

As I was resting on one of many boulder ‘rest stops’ I contemplated how terrifying and exciting it would have been to experience the moment when God told the mountains to rise. I also think about the mountains we all face in our lives. . . those parts of our life walk that require more effort and greater endurance to overcome. What mountains do you face? Be they cancer, chronic physical pain, emotional turmoil, relationship stress, financial struggles, or any other serious difficulty, climbing that mountain can certainly be more intimidating and oppressing than my 2 1/2 hour hike.

??????????What do you need to equip yourself in such a journey? Certainly real hope that secures your footing and keeps you from stumbling along the path. Also faith that allows you to see beyond your current suffering. And perseverance that produces the character that doesn’t give up, and the ability to find the secret of contentment in both the journey and the destination. Finally, we all need a friend who will walk with us all the way, who helps us up and encourages us to push on. Jesus calls us ‘friend’ and He also provided such a wonderful friend in my soul mate, Marcia. (If photos do not show in the email post, click on link to website to view.)

God promises to make a way through the mountains in our lives. Today is a great day to trust Him with your journey.

“And I will make all my mountains a way and my highways will be exalted.” Isaiah 49:11

Leukemia Update: A Journey of Perseverance

Generally races are meant to be run fast, to be the first one to finish and win the prize. Four months after my stem cell transplant and eight months into this journey with Leukemia, I am still a novice at this marathon. But I know this: there is no fast about it. In fact, sometimes walking across the room before sitting down again makes it hardly seem like a race at all. But it is a long-range marathon of perseverance.

The last two months has been marked by loss of appetite, weight loss, and stomach distress. The docs don’t know what is causing it. Our theory is that the treatments killed all the good and bad bacteria in my GI system. Docs say it could take a year or two to build that up again (really?!) and that probiotics are out of the question because of their link to death in post transplant patients. Apart from the very occasional bouts that double me over, most of it doesn’t seem like it should be a big deal compared to the score of other symptoms Leukemia patients, including myself, face.

But have you ever noticed in your own life how some pain, though not as intense as others you have faced none the less carries a similarly heavy weight? Whether it is a relational tension, a financial burden, or a physical pain, there is something about the cumulative effect of an ongoing pain. That’s where it becomes a marathon of perseverance.

What gets you through those difficult times, when it is months, years, maybe decades or a lifetime of waiting for resolution? Though I have sometimes been known for my tenacity, in this situation, I have found there is no simple “gritting your teeth and bearing it” because it completely wears you down. (My accomplishment for this whole day was to change a light bulb today…with Marcia’s help… and that is more than I’ve done in a week.) There are times you think you can bear no more. It has only been God’s enduring response to enduring faith that is a suitable answer to Leukemia. Faith is grown day by day, sometimes moment by moment, by believing God’s Word and finding it to be true and applicable in every aspect of your life. It is finding real hope to be not a wish, but a reality not yet revealed.

Got faith? We need it to persevere the marathon race when trials come our way. The time for building faith and believing God’s promises is now.

“…because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:3-4