The late Nelson Mandela said, “It always seems impossible until it's done.”
Sometimes things seem impossible. But we need to persevere—we need to stick with it until it’s done.
To persevere means to continue in a course of action even in the face of difficulty or with little or no prospect of success.
Nobody wants to be a quitter. Some times when we think we’re at the end of our road, we discover we’ve just reached the bend in the road and we continue toward something really spectacular.
Paul shared with the Romans about perseverance:
“…but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”[5]
Do you get the point? Paul is encouraging us to look at our difficult moments as an opportunity to produce perseverance. No one likes to have hard times. I know I don’t. But I do know, with the advantage of 20/20 hindsight, that some of the most important moments in my life are the ones that were very difficult. And going through those times brought me to places that were wonderful—exactly where God wanted me to be. As that happened to you?
Listen to what Paul wrote to his young protégé Timothy toward the end of his life:
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.[6]
I want to say similar words when I get to the end of my journey. How about you?
[1] Fahlbusch, E., & Bromiley, G. W. (1999-2003). Vol. 3: The encyclopedia of Christianity (79). Grand Rapids, MI; Leiden, Netherlands: Wm. B. Eerdmans; Brill.
[2] The Holy Bible: Today's New International Version. 2005 (Jn 17:13). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
[3] The Holy Bible: Today's New International Version. 2005 (Ec 4:9–12). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
[4] The Holy Bible: Today's New International Version. 2005 (Jn 15:13–17). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
[5] The Holy Bible: Today's New International Version. 2005 (Ro 5:3–5). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
[6] The Holy Bible: Today's New International Version. 2005 (2 Ti 4:7–8). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
Sometimes things seem impossible. But we need to persevere—we need to stick with it until it’s done.
To persevere means to continue in a course of action even in the face of difficulty or with little or no prospect of success.
Nobody wants to be a quitter. Some times when we think we’re at the end of our road, we discover we’ve just reached the bend in the road and we continue toward something really spectacular.
Paul shared with the Romans about perseverance:
“…but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”[5]
Do you get the point? Paul is encouraging us to look at our difficult moments as an opportunity to produce perseverance. No one likes to have hard times. I know I don’t. But I do know, with the advantage of 20/20 hindsight, that some of the most important moments in my life are the ones that were very difficult. And going through those times brought me to places that were wonderful—exactly where God wanted me to be. As that happened to you?
Listen to what Paul wrote to his young protégé Timothy toward the end of his life:
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.[6]
I want to say similar words when I get to the end of my journey. How about you?
[1] Fahlbusch, E., & Bromiley, G. W. (1999-2003). Vol. 3: The encyclopedia of Christianity (79). Grand Rapids, MI; Leiden, Netherlands: Wm. B. Eerdmans; Brill.
[2] The Holy Bible: Today's New International Version. 2005 (Jn 17:13). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
[3] The Holy Bible: Today's New International Version. 2005 (Ec 4:9–12). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
[4] The Holy Bible: Today's New International Version. 2005 (Jn 15:13–17). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
[5] The Holy Bible: Today's New International Version. 2005 (Ro 5:3–5). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
[6] The Holy Bible: Today's New International Version. 2005 (2 Ti 4:7–8). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
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