Legacy Series: Persistence and Perseverance (It's Tough Out There)

Now, regardless of the why, how, and who of your endeavor, there comes a time for this inevitable challenge: persistence and perseverance through trials and tribulations. We are all going to face trials and tribulations, disagreements with family and friends, and rejection or hardship on our way to what God has for us. We're reminded of this truth, and given encouragement, in 2 Timothy:

"Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted...continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how you have been acquainted with with sacred writing, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:12, 14-17).

We're often reminded to rejoice in our suffering (James 1:2-4, Romans 5:3-5, 1 Peter 4:12-13, etc.), it's advice that ought to be held tightly. It's easy to forget, though, and to get distracted and discouraged, or to feel disconnected from what's made sense to you before; so, we're gonna look through Scripture to find answers to this question: How do I persist and persevere in this journey?

Suffering is Certain

I find it useful to remember that tough times are to be expected. It's not the most joyful message, but I find that there's peace in the acceptance of reality. I think to Jesus in this moment. Here's this man--100% man (he's contained in flesh and feels as we do), but He's 100% God, meaning that He had every ability to create for Himself whatever reality He desired; with that power, and with full knowledge of the suffering He'd endure, Jesus chose to stay the course and to see God's plan through to the end. I like the way this picture is painted in Philippians:

"Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:5-11).

That, ladies and gentlemen, is our example, our hope, and our salvation. We're told, in Scripture, that we are to "pick up our crosses daily"--a reference to Christ's carrying of his own cross. There are commandments like that one sprinkled all throughout Scripture, reminding us that this path we've chosen is by no means an "easy" one.

We've been doomed to suffering since the Fall when we chose ourselves over God for the first time; and this is a pattern that we continue to follow to this day--and I'll remind you that the appropriate punishment for these actions (our sin and shortcoming) is death (Romans 6:23). It's death that we deserve, and so, to be given the chance to simply suffer (and to choose God through Christ) is something to be eternally grateful for. Again, it's not a happy message, per se, and it might not make much sense without an understanding of Scripture, but an understanding of this concept is necessary because it sets up the greatest story ever written, the greatest legacy ever left: The Gospel (The Good News).

Reminder to Rejoice

This is where it gets good. Once you've grasped the notion that suffering is certain (and deserved), it becomes a little easier to take the Word's advice and rejoice. We rejoice because we have a God and Savior who is willing to give His own life to save ours. We have a God who loves us more than we can imagine, more than we can be loved by anyone or anything on Earth. To hold to this truth and to recognize the opportunity that we have in this moment is where our joy comes from; because of Jesus Christ's sacrifice, we can be with God again. We're filled with His Spirit (our Helper) and we're given a purpose. And if you've made it this far internally--to have discovered a why, a how, and a who--then you've already interacted with this God and this purpose.

It's in understanding this Gospel that you will find the peace necessary to push on when things get tough. Our faith in this Gospel is the source of our persistence and it's the hope of our perseverance. But even with an understanding of this message, it can be difficult to find joy and peace in the midst of a storm that might feel bigger than life itself. You might think to yourself this message, this Gospel, is great and dandy, but I still don't know how to actually get through this challenge. I don't know what steps to actually take. Well we're told that Scripture is good for teaching, so let's go there.

Practical Perseverance

So, how can I become one who rejoices? And what else can I do to get through the hard times? Regardless of your experience with them, I believe that heartfelt prayer and intentional reading of Scripture are the best places to start getting answers. Proverbs 3:5-6 says this: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make straight your paths." Essentially, go to God before all else and in the midst of everything you do. We're told elsewhere to meditate on the Word day and night; Joshua 1:8 read like so: "This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success." If God is the one with the plan, then it might be obvious that He's the one to get direction and protection from. The verses that sum this up the best are, in my opinion are found in the words of Jesus in Matthew 11:

"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30).

Beyond the basic disciplines, I'd urge you to find time to do the things that you enjoy doing. In my experience, it's easy to get lost in the "work" of being a believer and the simple joys in my life get lost. Stress and fear will often get in the way of peace and joy, and it's easy to enslave yourself to the purpose you believe God has given you (as opposed to simply seeking to love and know God). For example, I love to play basketball--I have since I was a kid. There are times in which weeks will go by without my having played, and it's absence is usually very noticeable--basketball just happens to be a great way for me to let loose and enjoy life. Find whatever that is for you, whatever it is that helps you experience God love, joy, and peace: this could be reading, knitting, cleaning, going for a walk, having a conversation on the phone, or even just sitting in silence. God has given us the world to enjoy, and I believe that it can be glorifying to God to enjoy it (responsibly) and to be a light in it.

I've written about the importance of slowing down and of giving yourself permission to fail--those might also be good places to start finding rest (depending on what it is you're going through); it's absolutely vital that you do whatever you can to relieve yourself of the pressures of this life. The simplest and most concrete way to do so is to spend time with God. Another note that gives me peace, which I hope will do the same for you, is this notion that I've repeated in each of these segments: this is a discovery more so than a creation or manifestation of legacy. God created each of us for a specific purpose, He knows what we're meant to leave behind; so if you gain nothing else from this series, remember that fact and place your trust in God. That being said: be blessed, seek wisdom, and enjoy.

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Verses to Look Back On:

Joshua 1:8

Psalm 1:1-3

Proverbs 3:5-6

Matthew 11:28-30

Matthew 14:22-33*

Romans 5:3-5

James 1:2-4

1 Peter 4:12-13