Perseverance

Perseverance is not something that's fun, and it's certainly not easy. There are a lot of times when we stop and just wonder, "Why in the world am I doing this?" Whether it's at school, at work, or in a relationship, there always comes a point (usually several) when we have to actively make the choice to continue on.

"-Not only [do we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God], but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.-" (The Apostle Paul's Epistle to the Romans ch.5 vs.3-5 NIV)

I will be the first to say that sufferings don't make me jump up and down with glee. In fact, when my caffeine pills (which I took because I'd only had four hours of sleep the night before) gave me an ulcer last night at work and I was pulling pallets with one hand as the other was gripping my hurting stomach, I didn't even have a smile on my face. If anything, it was a grimace. But I did have to laugh.

You see, that verse had just played on iPod as I was listening right before my ulcer began to hurt. I knew this principle beforehand, but I don't think it really hit so clearly as it did last night. It's not about jumping up and down with joy when you're suffering. It's about the fact that I could laugh. I wasn't bitter. I could even smile at my coworkers and at shoppers when they talked to me.

Perseverance really isn't about liking the suffering you're going through. It's about not being defeated by it. When we overcome bitterness and weariness, we become stronger people, and we find hope.

"-Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.-" (The Apostle Paul's Epistle to the Galatians ch.6 v.9 NIV)

We persevere by looking for that hope. Hoping is what get's us through the hardest of times. And when we hope, we will not be disappointed as long as we don't give up. Why? Well, it always comes back to love. God poured out his love on us by the Holy Spirit. Our hope is from God and it is secure in Him. You know what? I feel great today! It's been a great day! I'm not in the least disappointed. I almost wanted to dance when I was leaving work, and tonight I am full of contentment. And this is such a simple example.

It's because we know that we won't be disappointed, and we won't, that we can actually get excited about sufferings. Every time we are confronted with a time of suffering, be it physical, emotional, or spiritual, we are being given a chance to not only grow stronger right now, but to reap a harvest in the future so long as we persevere to the end. We can have hope in this, and we can know with certainty that we will not be disappointed. This is my Reality.