James 1.4 Let
perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not
lacking anything. – St. James
Perseverance –
that blessed ability to keep on keeping on. Perseverance
– the effort that makes one say: a year
from now I’ll be glad I started today. Perseverance
– the attitude that helps me keep what is really important, in focus. Perseverance – the investment that pays a
yield of maturity and completion.
A friend of mine came into my office one day and wrote W.A.S.W.G.W.D. on my whiteboard. Of
course I asked, Okay, I’ll bite. He
replied: Wait and see what God will do.
That, friends, is perseverance. It’s the mindset that no matter what happens,
God is up to something, and what He does will be nothing short of mind-blowing.
That is the God we serve.
The majority mentality seems to be, God is short on effort
and production. Statements like, I prayed
and nothing happened, seem to be the norm. But God is no genie – He doesn’t
act like we want Him to because He doesn’t grant us our three wishes and then
let us be. We like to think He is a
genie, but that is just unbelief in who He really is, and what He really does
for those He loves.
For just a moment, stop and think about what you’re
facing. No, really, stop, quit reading, and think about what you’re facing. Got
it? Okay. Now imagine there is no God
involved. Imagine you’ve got to face, whatever it is, all on your own. Now
return to reality and remember God is on your side and He is with you in
whatever it is – or rather, you are with
Him in whatever it is…
James said trials and tests cause us to do one of two
things: either we stick it out with God – or we go it alone. W.A.S.W.G.W.D. The
choice is ours to keep on keeping on, or to the heavy-lifting ourselves.
Perseverance builds trust and keeps us positively focused on our relationship
with God, not necessarily what He will do, or not do, on our behalf. God is no genie.
For just another moment, stop and think of where you’d
like your relationship to go with God. Do you want it to be deeper and more
intimate; or do you think God is better when He’s kept at a safe distance? God
is infinite; never-ending. We are finite but we’ve been invited to enjoy Him in
eternity. Words fail at how big, or lasting, eternity really is. Putting descriptors
of time and space on eternity do it a disservice. Eternity is where God is and
where He desires us to be, with Him, as well.
Eternity, is outside the realm of whatever it is we’re
facing. And in eternity, none of what we’re facing today will matter. Only this will be important: we somehow let our issues push us into deeper
relationship with God. We matured. We stuck it out – and we won the prize:
God Himself.
Father, may I sing Your
praises like a little song-bird today. May
I praise You for what I am facing, and that You are right there with me. May I
praise You for what You’re doing to build perseverance into me; for that is my
only hope: that You and I stick it out, together, forever. Thank You. Bless
You. Lead me in the way Eternal. Amen.
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