Keeping Christ at the Center as We Persevere Through Life’s Trials

Do you ever feel like running on a hamster wheel, waking up to similar challenges daily? Or are you going through a tough time that seems never-ending? Maybe you have too many tasks to do, and the list keeps growing.

For the last couple of weeks, we have focused on "Perseverance." We started with the definition: "Persistence is doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success." We decided to break that down this morning. Starting with "Persistence"

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9

Persistence requires getting up daily, hopping back on the wheel, and doing something when we don't feel like it.

Edison said, “Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try once more.” 

Guys, we know we all carry different loads in life. And right now, one of those loads may feel too hard to take. Our prayer for you this morning is for God's steady hand for each of you and encourage you, whatever your load might be this week.

The next words that pop out to us are "despite the difficulty." This life can be hard. Since the fall and beginning of time, life hasn't been easy. Health, relationships, work, and the ultimate reality that we are human beings will eventually pass.

“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12

You might say it's all great, waking up each day and hopping back on the wheel, enduring difficulty, but when does it stop? It brings us to the next word in the definition, which we struggle with and suspect many of you do: DELAY.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”  Philippians 4:6

As men, we often want things when we want them. We want instant results and our timeline to reach the goal line! God's timeline is God'scompletely different from what we have in mind. In our lives, we are often convicted about whether we are playing the right game, on the right field, or even have clarity on God's goal line for our lives. 

The last two words in the definition of Perseverance are "achieving success." When we look at "the definition of success, how well do we believe we are aligned with God's definition of God?

We heard a great example of this in our sermon yesterday at Ada Bible. John Dickson, the visiting pastor, shared a story of a conversation he had in China with a Christian woman whose husband was in a four-year labor camp for preaching the Gospel. She was in tears, presumably due to her husband and their family's difficult season. However, upon further understanding, she was experiencing tears of joy because she had received news that her husband could share the Gospel with two guards at the camp, and they GAVE THEIR LIVES TO CHRIST!

Wow, guys, that gives a completely different perspective to Perseverance. It's not just about it being persistent or enduring difficulty and delay. It's all about ONE CHRIST. That's what it is, gents. Reflecting on that this morning, we realize we have a long way to go.

We are praying this morning for each one of us, MEN. As we go about this week, no matter what we experience, we will keep CHRIST front and center.