Main Idea: Perseverance keeps holding on to God when pain says, "Let go!"

Sally Robbins was a member of Australia's 2004 Olympic rowing team, competing in the women's eight final. With approximately 400 meters left in the race, the 23-year-old suddenly quit. Robbins slumped and let her oar dip into the water. Australia dropped from third to last place in the event.

"I just rowed my guts out in the first 1,500 and didn't have anything left, and that's all I could have done for today," Robbins explained. Her teammates were not sympathetic, threatening to throw her into the water. In a country that takes its rowing seriously, the Sydney Daily Telegraph's headline read "Just Oarful" and asked readers to vote on whether she had cost the team a medal. Melbourne's newspaper headline read, "It's eight, mate, pull your weight," underscoring the fact that Robbins' actions had hurt her entire team.

Robbins was optimistic about her chances of returning to competition with her teammates. "It'll be a long process, and I think that I will be back, and will be back with these girls again, eventually," she said. "Obviously, I have to earn their trust." Whether that feeling will be shared by her teammates remains to be seen. I’m not sure that Sally Robbins will be able to earn back the trust of her teammates because she couldn’t hold on when her pain told her to let go. Sally failed to persevere and lost more than a medal; she lost the trust of her teammates. ("Rower suffers Aussie Backlash," www.News.BBC.co.uk , 8-25-04)

This morning we’re going to talk about perseverance as we come to the final message in our "Quest for Character" series. In this series we’ve talked about the need for humility, gratitude, faithfulness, integrity and wholeness. Today we want to explore the character quality of perseverance. Our text from James has a lot to say about perseverance but one thing I want us to hear is that perseverance is what keeps us holding on to God when pain says to let go.

What is perseverance? There are three words that all reflect the need for us to hang on to a task or truth when our pain tells us to let go. Those words are perseverance, endurance and patience. Perseverance means to stay with something even when everything is against us. Patience is the ability to bear up under a difficult circumstance without complaining. Endurance is the power to withstand stress or pressure. The word that James uses meant to stay in place or to stand against opposition. It is something more than patience because patience is sometimes passive but perseverance is more active, successful resistance to pain, problems or pressures. Perseverance is often the only thing that will separate us from being a failure or a success. Sally Robbins would never have been known as a failure if she had only persevered through her pain.

There’s a difference, though, about perseverance that we need to understand as it relates to our character. The difference is that perseverance in and of itself may or may not aid my character. I have known many people who have endured great pain, pressure and problems in their life and still not be a person who models a Christ like character. Merely because I endure or persevere through some great trauma or problem does not mean that I will automatically be a truly spiritual person. James 1:5 points out that the purpose of perseverance is that it is the gateway for the wisdom of how to live life in a manner pleasing to God. If my perseverance doesn’t result in spiritual wisdom, then it is admirable but not profitable.

Perseverance, as I said, has different dimensions. It’s more than just patience; it’s why we need to be patient. We discover that through perseverance we don’t try to move faster than God. Endurance is perseverance that lasts even when it appears there is no advantage in staying with a particular task or course. Perseverance, endurance and patience are what fill the gap between our pain, pressure or problem and God’s decision to act to relieve the pain, release the pressure or resolve the problem. It is in that gap that we learn that perseverance keeps holding on to God when pain says let go.

Where do we need to demonstrate perseverance? James tells us that perseverance is needed most where the pain is the greatest, (v. 2-3). James refers in these verses to "trials" or "troubles." The word meant for these Jewish Christians the persecution they were facing for being believers in Jesus Christ alone for salvation. The phrase literally means outside pressures that are designed by God to test our faith in him. In other words, the trials or troubles are things that appear to me as if I stumbled into them, when in reality they are circumstances designed by God to allow me to experience the need for perseverance. Perseverance is needed in those times when it seems God is allowing us to experience more than we think we are able to bear. Therefore, I need to persevere in that place where my pain is the greatest.

Not to add salt to the wounds of any St. Louis Cardinal fans but Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling’s performance in Game 2 of the World Series was a demonstration of perseverance through pain. Schilling had torn a tendon in his foot during the American League Championship. The doctors sutured his tendon together before Game 2 just as they had done in Game 6 in the ALCS against the Yankees.

Last Sunday when Schilling woke up he didn’t think he could walk and wasn’t sure if he could pitch. He literally willed himself to the mound and pitched the Red Sox to a 6-2 win over the Cardinals. Before Schilling was relieved, his sock was bloody and his foot was aching. He choose to make the most of the moment by writing "K ALS" on his shoe, which stood for "strike out Lou Gehrig’s Disease." Schilling persevered when and where his pain was the greatest. (Associated Press, 10/26/04)

The bottom line for us is that our pain is the arena where our perseverance is played. For Curt Schilling it was Fenway Park and Yankee Stadium. For you, it may be your stroke, heart surgery, divorce, depression, addiction or any variety of places that are your arena. But you don’t need perseverance where you aren’t hurting. You need it where the pain is the greatest. Ask yourself: Where has God chosen to put me in order for me to understand what it means to hold on when my pain wants me to let go?

James says one of the most startling things about pain. He says that pain offers us a choice in how we respond. He tells these Christians that perseverance offers the choice to respond to pain in a different way—the way of joy. (v. 2) He tells them, "Consider your pain your opportunity to respond in joyful perseverance." By adding a qualification of "pure" joy, it’s as if he is making sure they understand that he is really serious. He means real, true joy when we have places of pain that push us to our breaking point. He didn’t tell them to be happy about their pain because happiness is dependent on how I feel. I can be joyful and not be happy about any circumstances. What’s amazing about this is that James says respond with joy and doesn’t blink!

James makes it clear that we have a choice in how we respond to pain. One choice some may choose is denial that the pain, pressure or problem is as bad as it really is. Another response is to complain about it. This is wanting everyone else to share your misery by hearing how bad you have it. We can also respond with self-pity. It may not be something we say but just in the way we act that is letting everyone know they should feel sorry us. The choice for a Christian is different from all of these because we get the chance to respond to pain, pressure, and problems with pure joy.

Why respond with joy? Because the purpose of the pain is to test, try or prove my faith in order for me to grow like Christ. The pain is the tool to shape or form me into Christ’s image. Erwin McManus says, "You can consider trials as the perfect environment for indescribable joy when you embrace your circumstance as God’s incubator to form you in his image." (Uprising, p. 210)

There are two other reasons to respond with joy and that is that through my pain God is developing real faith and reminding me of just how much I need Him. My choice, though, is to allow joyful perseverance to be my choice when pain comes into my life. If I do, then I grow like Christ, my faith is proved and I know God like I’ve never known him before!

Bear Bryant, Alabama's famous football coach, told of a time in his early days at Kentucky when his team fumbled the ball in front of the bench, and in the resulting scramble someone kicked over a box containing eight more footballs. A free-for-all ensued, with Tennessee recovering five balls and Kentucky four. The officials gave possession to Tennessee. The moral: When the ball comes bouncing your way, grab it. Seize every opportunity. We are to seize the opportunity to be joyful even in our pain. (Richard Doebler, "Tempus Fidget," Leadership Weekly , 9-30-03)

One of the great temptations for us when we have pain, pressures and problems is to try to relieve, release and resolve all of them ourselves. James says in verse 4 that perseverance is what keeps me from acting on my own ability to relieve the pain. The language James uses is beautiful to describe the finished product of perseverance. He says we will be "mature, complete, not lacking anything." The Message Bible says we will be "mature, well-developed, not deficient in any way." But we can’t get there if we take a shortcut. Our spiritual capacity will never reach its potential unless we let God have all the time He needs to develop our character.

Erwin McManus compares this temptation to take a shortcut to Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness. He points out that Jesus was tempted to wait on God for bread or follow Satan’s encouragement and eat rocks. I’m sure you recall the story in Matthew 4 where Jesus went into the wilderness around Judea and was tempted by Satan. His temptation didn’t come until all his physical faculties were depleted. It was then that Satan tempted Jesus to end his needless suffering and meet his own needs. Jesus responded by saying, "Man does not live by bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God" (Matt. 4:4). Jesus made the choice to wait on God to provide instead of relieving his pain his own way.

McManus writes, "Jesus chose to wait on God, His provider. However long He must wait, He would persevere. He would rather be hungry waiting on His Father’s timing than to lose hope and be found eating rocks when the bread came." (Uprising, p. 217) Today the pain you are facing has you in a place where your way out looks better than God’s. If we choose to persevere and wait on God to act, then we won’t be eating rocks when the bread comes. Perseverance keeps me from acting on my own ability to relieve my pain, pressure or problems.

Verse 12 is basically a summary of what he said in verses 2-5. Yet he adds both a perspective and a promise to his thought. He says that the person who holds on to God when their pain, pressure or problem screams at them to let go has accomplished the purpose for the pain, the pressure or the problem. Remember James said earlier that our trials were under the design and intention of God in order to determine the reality of our faith (v. 3). The whole purpose was, as the NLT says, "When your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow." God placed you in the pressure cooker not to see you fail but to see you grow in endurance because he knows where you are going to need it next!

Yet greater than the perspective is the promise that comes because we have persevered. The promise, James says, is "the crown of life." Usually we think of this as a reward or recognition given to us in heaven. Jesus told one of the churches in Revelation that he would give to them "the crown of life" (Rev. 2:9-10). However it actually means not just a reward in heaven but the chance to live life at its full capacity now! The Message says, "The reward is life and more life." (v. 12). The whole purpose of your persevering in your pain, pressure and problem is to enable you to live life at a capacity you would not know before.

My brother Brian is the Quality Analyst for Superior Wheel in Fayetteville. They make the wheel rims for SUV’S and high performance cars such as BMW, Mercedes and others. The wheel rim is tested for any fractures or weakness in the metal in order to be certain that the wheel will sustain any stress that can occur when the car is being driven. His job is to make certain that the wheel rim performs at its full capacity so the driver of the vehicle experiences the full capacity of what the car can do!

In the same way, God wants you to live life at a capacity that you are not living right now. The only way to get you there is by testing your endurance. When that test is completed and you have held on to God even though your pain said let go, then life, all of life, is richer and fuller. Why? Because you are able to perform at the capacity God intended for you.

When the Spanish Conquistadors came to this country in the 1600’s they brought with them swords that were the finest in the world. The swords were crafted in Toledo, Spain. As long as 2000 years ago the swords forged in Toledo were known for their quality. Hannibal’s armies as well as the Roman legions treasured the swords of Toledo. They are even today valued by collectors as the finest made in the world.

At the core of the sword was an iron blade with layer upon layer of steel hammered upon the iron. What was interesting was the process of forging the sword because it was a combination of both the craftsman and the climate. You see the finest swords were made on the darkest nights when there was no moon. Because only then could the craftsman be sure that the sword was made perfectly. The worth of the sword became obvious when it was forged in the darkest night. (Articleinsider.com, Oct. 27, 2004)

That’s the issue we come down to for our self: Is it worth persevering through my pain, pressure and problem? Is holding on God worth it when my pain says let go? James says that persevering is worth more than avoiding the trial! Is Christ worth obeying when your marriage falls apart? Is Christ worth trusting when financial pressures are staring me in the face? Is Christ worth adoring when illness has stolen my life? Is Christ worth serving when the one I loved is taken from me? Is Christ worth my devotion when I am misunderstood and slandered for following Him? Is Christ worth honoring when I feel I have lost everything that matters? The answer is, "Yes!" When we choose to persevere by holding on to God when our pain says to let go, only then will we know what it is to really live! Hold on because you can’t imagine the life that’s waiting for you!

Sunday, October 31, 2004

Dr. Bruce Tippit, Pastor

First Baptist Church

Jonesboro, Arkansas

btippit@fbcjonesboro.org