Stick With It

"Footprints in the sands of time are never made by sitting down.”
Perseverance, endurance, and plain ole’ stubborn tenacity are
needed to hold on to our hope in the midst of difficulty. If our life’s
work will leave behind footprints in the sands of time, it will be
because we have striven to go in a direction that is different from the
well-traveled road taken by the world.

The Christian life is compared to many things in the word of God.
Surrounded by “so great a cloud of witness,” it is a race in which we
must “lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily
entangles us” and run with our eyes fixed upon Jesus, “the author
and perfecter of faith” (Heb. 12:1-2). The Christian life is much like a
race. But it is not so much a sprint as it is a marathon. Speed is not
required so much as stamina. Therefore, we have a great need for
endurance.

Our ability to remain in the struggle—to keep on keeping on—is
measured by the strength we receive from the Lord, not by the
strength we receive from men. God is the one who gives
perseverance and encouragement (Rom. 15:5). While it is true that
God may use others as sources of encouragement to help us
develop greater endurance, God is the only one who can provide the
spiritual sustenance we need to finish the race.

One way God provides endurance is through suffering. Most of us
would prefer another method. But there are no shortcuts to
endurance. Those who compete in marathons know the importance
of training. A person doesn’t just decide to run the grueling 26-mile
course on the spur of the moment. Training is needed to gradually
build up endurance to complete the course.
The trials and tribulations which come our way in this life have a way
of helping us develop spiritual endurance. By turning to God for
strength and learning from what we suffer, we can develop a
stronger and deeper character, one that will see us through to the
end of life’s journey.

As we run the race, our perseverance is inspired by hope (1 Thess.
1:3). The hope of heaven is a grand and glorious hope, one that will
motivate and inspire us to endure whatever hardships or difficulties
come our way. We fix our eyes on Jesus. He is our goal. To be with
Him is our destiny. In the meantime, we must hold to the course that
is set before us, never giving up but always keeping our trust in Him.
Glen Elliott