Endurance and Perseverance

The music of my childhood was the music of my parents. My dad loved goofy 60’s music like “G.T.O.” by Rohnny and the Daytonas. My mom bounced back and forth between Les Miserable and Country. Though I was not a big fan of the way country music sounded at first, I was amazed at how good country music was at describing disappointment. One song that describes the emotions of a break-up is “The Race Is On” by Sawyer Brown. Here is what it says, 

                Well, the race is on
                And here comes pride up the backstretch
                Heartaches are goin' to the inside
                My tears are holdin' back
                They're tryin' not to fall
                My heart's out of the runnin'
                True love's scratched for another's sake
                The race is on and it looks like heartache
                And the winner loses all

During this COVID-19 quarantine season there has been a race of different emotions taking place. There was fear and uncertainty leading the way. Soon after that, faith and even some excitement made it to the front. After about a month in, frustration and fatigue overcame all excitement and really challenged faith. At this point it seems like weariness and impatience are beating out faith, hope, and love. And it is hard to see some of the ugly things showing up in our country as well as in our own souls. 

What I am praying for these days is patient endurance and joyful perseverance. Wikidiff.com defines endurance as “the measure of a person's stamina or persistence in difficulty”; and perseverance as “continuing in a course of action without regard to discouragement, opposition or previous failure”.

The course of action we are called to is to follow Jesus and help others follow Jesus as well. In the face of COVID-19’s prolonged disruption we need to see Jesus, rely on Jesus, and trust Jesus. He alone can help us stay on track even though our emotions are running wild. He alone has persevered through life without sin. He alone endured the cross and the wrath of God with the joy of the Lord as His strength. 

If you would like a Biblical road map for dealing with disappointment, Hebrews 12 gives us the instructions we need to live with endurance and perseverance  Here is what it says:

Throw off the sin and weight that entangles. Keep running. Fix your eyes on Jesus. Don’t forget to encourage your own heart by reminding it that God is your Father. He will not only give you the strength to endure, but He will also use the challenge to make you pure.

Peace to you and yours, 

David

P.S. I am happy to tell you that, while we are giving ourselves to meeting in our homes for our Sunday mornings through Father’s Day, we are doing some regathering at the church. We have had a men’s breakfast and our 3rd -5th grade group gathered together. It was wonderful, even though we “social distanced” and took temperatures. Next week we have a pre-registered Worship NIght planned for June 5th with the same social distancing and taking of temperatures. It didn’t take long for all the spots to be filled up. Woohoo! Jesus be with us and lead us back to one another. 

Tagged: evangelism, gospel, good news, love, love your neighbor

0 Likes