Choosing to
Persevere (Part two)
By Karen D’Amore
Let
perseverance finish its work so that you may be
mature and
complete, not lacking anything.
James 1:4 (NIV)
I had monitored the daunting
sub-zero forecast for days, so I had full disclosure as to the obstacles I’d be
encountering. Similarly, the prepaid race fee wasn’t a steep enough investment
to influence my withdrawal from the race, either. Although I’m not generally a
New Year’s resolution embracer, there was something significant about this New
Year’s Day event that was impelling me to complete the race, in spite of the
miserable forecast. Choosing to tackle the forecasted obstacles was spurred
by the desire to launch the new year, challenging myself to be stretched beyond
my comfort zone.
(Recalling this impactful, anonymous
quote on a coffee mug also influenced my decision: Perseverance…The greater the obstacle, the greater the glory in
overcoming it!)
As chronicled in yesterday’s
devotional Him-Powering Perseverance, the anticipated dreadful race
conditions were more challenging than I could’ve ever imagined. Honestly, my
“comfort zone” didn’t know what had hit it! And when my comfort zone reached a
point of desperation, I finally cried out to God. When my strength was tapped
out, I recognized the vulnerability of my personal weakness which moved me to
acknowledge my need for God. The supernatural empowerment I experienced in that
moment tied deeply-stable knots to my faith-strings.
What a beautiful analogy for real
life: As my feet pounded the frozen pavement - - every time I placed one foot
in front of the other - - God met me in that placement. And as I persevered
through the difficulties and obstacles in that race, it was God who was
glorified in the outcome. Drawing me to a place of recognizing my humble
dependence on Him, He didn’t remove the obstacles. But rather, He carried me
through them. My feet traversed through
Scripture as I experienced the dynamics of Hebrews 12:1b-2a, “…let us run with
endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author
and finisher of our faith.”
Choosing to subject myself to, and persevere
through, the obstacles of that New Year’s Day race, served as an invaluable
faith-building exercise. Had I chosen to live within the limits of my comfort zone,
I would have missed an opportunity to grow and mature my faith. And I would
have robbed myself of the privilege of experiencing God in His supernatural glory.
“But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power
is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about
my weakness, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s
sake, I delight in weakness…” [1]
Choose to persevere!
GOING
DEEPER:
1. How will you choose perseverance?
FURTHER
READING:
Married to Dan, Karen, a retired
police officer, currently works as a Manicurist at Craig Berns Salon and as an
instructor in the Cosmetology Department at WCTC. Karen also serves on the
Welcoming Team at Oakwood.
[1] 2 Corinthians 12:9-10a
