“…perseverance produces character, and character produces hope.” – Romans 5:4
I am told that, when it comes to specialized military training, boundaries of extreme deprivation and injury are being constantly tested in order to convince our elite forces that when our brains tell us we have absolutely expended 100% of our physical abilities, we’re only about 80% correct. This speaks to one of the pillars of a soldier’s success: Taking persistent, unrelenting action to accomplish your mission despite your circumstances.
If that sounds tough, it is. So be thankful these guys are fighting for you. But consider also what it means personally. Persistence is only natural to bad habits and poor manners. Otherwise, it demands a lot more out of us than we are often willing to even consider; which means that, likely, you have yet to meet your real limitations and, therefore, are not aware of your actual potential. What is worse is that even your mind is willing to prevent you from this awakening! So you have to push through. And, I would add, this is true in more than just the physical aspects of your life.
In my own training for pastoral counseling, I was taught that absolutely every successful marriage has a moment when both husband and wife independently come to the personal conclusion that failure is not an option. You might say, they come to realize the reality of their vows, fidelity in spite of circumstance. They choose persistence, to push through, to take unrelenting action to accomplish their mission despite the conditions.
I have been blessed to witness these moments. It’s incredible to see a spouse finally determine, “I’m not just showing up, but I’m going to be fully present, all the time. I’m investing first and fully into this relationship. I’m going to be grateful and show appreciation. I’m going to give and receive. I’m going to listen and share. And – forsaking all other distractions, temptations and commitments – I’m going to learn what my actual 100% looks like.”
Again, this is not natural. This takes more than a decision. It takes more than trying. It takes persistent, unrelenting action to accomplish your mission despite your circumstances.
Just consider how many times you’ve made a resolution to do something better. How long to those commitments tend to last? And let’s up the ante a bit: Consider your relationship — your “marriage” — to Jesus. Have you ever voiced a commitment to, say, worship more consistently? Or to study God’s Word more frequently with other Christians, like in a Bible study or at our Equip? Or to pray daily, or even to learn to pray more deeply? Or to relinquish an addiction or stop an immoral proclivity that keeps you from being real with Jesus or your family of faith?
How long did those commitments last?
Listen! In absolutely every successful faith relationship there is a moment when a person matches Jesus’ participation, when they come to the conclusion that failure is not an option. You might say, they come to realize the reality of their faith, fidelity in spite of circumstance. They choose persistence, to push through, to take unrelenting action to accomplish their mission despite the conditions.
It is a worthy moment to witness, when a person awakens and determines, “I’m not just showing up, but I’m going to be fully present, all the time. I’m investing first and fully into this relationship. I’m going to be grateful and show appreciation. I’m going to give and receive. I’m going to listen and share. And – forsaking all other distractions, temptations and commitments – I’m going to learn what my actual 100% looks like.”