Perseverance is not a popular word in these times. We want what we want, and we want it right now! Many have not grown past the childhood stage and continue to believe that whatever they desire should be served to them immediately! When we want to make a great impact on others’ lives, we must learn the importance of patient endurance.
We have learned that whatever comes our way, we must conduct ourselves in the proper way – the way that is right before God. When we do what is right, we must expect that it will never be pleasing to everyone. There are those who want to oppose right living – they want to “live and let live” without regard to correct or incorrect behavior.
Perseverance will require a combination of at least two ingredients:
First, we must learn the importance of pace.
I am told that in a marathon, it is not uncommon for runners to consider dropping out somewhere around the 21-mile mark. This reminds me of my Junior High School days when I ran track. I could break the five-minute mile at that time, that was a great accomplishment! I would often go to track meets and have no one who would run against me. On one such occasion, after I had been awarded the first-place ribbon for the race I did not run, our coach told me he wanted me to run the half-mile race. I responded, “Coach Davis, I have never run the half-mile and have no idea how to run that race.” His response was, “Erny, just run it twice as fast!”
I had drunk a lot of cold water and was just lounging around, awaiting the end of the day and the bus ride home. But, foolishly, I agreed and began the race as always just staying with the pack. But, I reasoned, if I am going to have to run this twice as fast, this pace is far too slow! I sped up and only one runner tried to keep my pace. We were far ahead of the pack, but he did not have the stamina and stopped running about half way. I was way out in front! I was focused on my “should do pace,” and not on my “could do pace”! Pace is all about what one does before they hit that mental and physical well that will halt the forward progress. My “could to pace” was how fast I could run. My “should do pace” would have been much slower and would have given me the appropriate reserve to finish the race.
With only about a fourth of the race to complete, I began feeling the cold water making me extremely nauseous. I “heaved and heaved, and heaved” while trying to finish the race, and did finish it, but in third place. The great lesson learned was that I needed that day to stay with the pack who were experienced runners and not try to “run it twice as fast”!
In real life, we have to embrace a healthy pace that will allow us to keep going and to finish strong – not having to stop and “heave” along the pathway!
Second, we must understand purpose.
Purpose is the “why” behind the “what”. It is the reason we signed up to run that marathon. It is our motivation for accomplishing the goals we have set for ourselves. When we focus on our purpose, we are inspired to keep putting one foot in front of the other to continue our forward progress.
There is no one who has not considered quitting. Even Jesus asked his Father to please allow Him to quit and not have to face His crucifixion! “If there is any other way, Father, please allow me to escape what is before me, but not My will, but Thine be done,” Jesus prayed. The only thing that drove our Master forward was by reminding Himself of the “why”! For this exact purpose, He came to earth – to pay the price for our sins! Never quit – consider why the race was begun!
By practicing pace and purpose, we will be prepared when we hit the metaphorical 21-mile mark. It inevitably happens when we are doing something worthwhile. Pace will provide the energy to keep going, and purpose will give us reason to keep up the pace!
