Perseverance helps us ‘hang in there’

A company had a meeting to determine the personal qualities they wanted in a manager they planned to hire. On the top of the list was “the ability to follow through always.” They were looking for a person who would not just talk the talk, but someone who everyone could rely on to get the job done.

The ability “to hang in there” and “always get the job done” in the spiritual life is called perseverance. St. Augustine of Hippo call perseverance “a divine gift by which an individual perseveres in Christ to the end of this life.”

The author of Hebrews reminds us that Christ gave us an example of perseverance by his life. “Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart.” (Heb. 12:1-3)

It’s very easy to become discouraged on our spiritual journey especially when we have lost hope of improving our lives. Sometimes we are bored with the same rituals and our prayer life has become very dry. Now and then we can wonder whether our good deeds make any difference in the grand scheme of life.

When we start feeling this way, we have to acknowledge two realities: we need the grace of God to keep us going and we need the encouragement of other believers. St. Paul tells us, “Encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing. Be at peace among yourselves… And we urge you, beloved, to admonish the idlers, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all of them. (1 Thess. 5:11-14) The Church is the community that encourages one another.

I would like to close with a reflection by an unknown author entitled “Whatever it Takes.”

“I am a believer committed to doing ‘whatever it takes.’ I am a child of God. I am a follower of Jesus Christ. I will not look back, let up, slow down or back away. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure. I am finished and done with low living, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tame visions, mundane talking, cheap giving and short term goals.

“I no longer need prosperity, positions or popularity. I don’t have to be right, first, recognized, praised, regarded or rewarded. I now live by presence, learn by faith, love by patience, lift by prayer and labor by power.

“My face is set. My gait is fast. My goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my Guide is reliable, my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, diluted or delayed.

“I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

” I will not give up, shut up, or let up, till I have preached up, prayed up, paid up, stored and stayed up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus.

“I must go on until he comes to get his own. He will have no problem recognizing me, because I have dedicated my life to being a believer committed to doing ‘whatever it takes.'”