Perseverance: Persistence. Determination.
Galatians 6:9, “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”
Last week I was at, what I call, my “Happy Place”, Little Gasparilla Island. Walking the beach is a must. The stretch of beach that I walk is about 2 ½ miles one way. Well, I did a brisk walk all the way to the peach house that stands (really leans) out into the water. That’s my marker. When I reached my destination and turned around to walk back, I decided to walk in the water, knee deep. I did this when there wasn’t anyone in the water or posted up on the beach. The first stretch of knee-deep-water-walking was about a quarter of a mile. It wasn’t long, and I could feel the burn on my thighs. I loved it! Like I was always told when exercising, “No pain, no gain.” This somewhat brisk walk pace began to slow a little. But I kept going. My legs felt like they had muddled through about a half mile by the time I reach the next set of beach goers.
I treaded out of the water and onto the sand. Whew! I felt like I was walking on clouds compared to what I had just trekked through. The load felt a bit lighter, but I wasn’t done yet. There was still more knee-deep-water-walking to be done.
After I passed by the two fishermen on the beach and a couple of families, I went back into the water. Arms were pumping, as if they were helping me persevere through the water. My site was set on a goal of walking to, what looked like from a distance, my pink chair resting in the sand. I judged it to be about a half mile hike. “Let’s do this!” I said to myself. My brisk walk started to drag a little, but the burn felt good. I would say, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”
What I thought was my prize at the end of the line changed. No, I didn’t shorten my goal; it had to become a further one. What I had originally thought to be my lonely pink chair waiting for me to sink into became a cluster of three colorful chairs, belonging to others, which also happened to be closer than where my chair was perched.
“I can do it. I can do it.” I felt like “The Little Engine that Could.” Now I must confess, I didn’t walk the entire time. I did stop twice to pick up two large awesome shells, but discovered that animals still resided in them so I had to place them back in the water. Then, once I paused for about twenty seconds. I had noticed a large dark shadow in the water about thirty yards away. Was it tarpon? Was it a porpoise? Was it a shark!? No, it was a manatee cruising along the coastline. I saw him nudge his nose out of the water, then back down again. I thought about swimming out to him, but then chickened out thinking, “What if I get out there and another dark shadow comes along that is not a manatee, and there is no one nearby to save me.” No thanks!
Well, it was time to continue my walk and to readjust my ending goal. I thought about how we all go through struggles and trials in life, but when all is said and done, and we have kept our focus on God, there IS glory in the end. James 1:12 says, “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him.” The Message translation reads this way, “Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life.”
My chair looked to be about eight tenths of a mile from that clump of colorful chairs. I was determined. I picked up my step, pumped my arms hard, and marched through the water.
Yes! I reached my final goal! My chair was a welcoming relief, but I was so pumped I probably could have kept walking. Ahhh, but the time of relaxation, sitting down, stretching out my legs into the water as it reached the sand, and a swig of water sure felt great.
I didn’t give up, and my body will reap a good toning when all is said and done.
I love Romans 5:2-5, “Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”
Persevere through your struggles. You can do it! Gory is waiting for you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wLUC_M5Rxs (How can I not post something with this title and no paly this song? I love being knee-deep in the water some where!)
Tim and I on the boat.