Staying the Course

We all love comeback stories, don't we? I'm not sure that I've seen a better comeback in many years then in last night's heroic plays of Peyton Manning and his Colts. Until last night' s thrilling game, they had been disappointed so many times in the playoffs -- twice at the hands of the Patriots.

While watching the end of the game, where Peyton had his one last chance to not only win this game but also redeem himself by finally making it to the Super Bowl, I turned to Susan and said, "I'm afraid to get my hopes up that they can beat these guys." To which Susan replied, "You want to protect your heart."

After the excitement of the game end, which was so thrilling as I watched the owner and coach of the Colts both give God the glory, I pondered Susan's comment. Why is it that we sometimes want to give up and stop trying -- whatever challenge we may face? I think Susan's right -- we don't want to get our heart wounded again. So we protect it by not getting our hopes up. And in doing so, we may miss out in some great victories in our lives...and may miss a more subtle positive experience in our lives.

Perseverance does more than lead us to a way of finally overcoming our challenge. I know of many people who have persevered for years in trying to reach a goal, and yet never quite made it. Dan Marino is one example. When I watched him comment after the game last night, I remembered that he was one of the best all time quarterbacks. A few years ago he was inducted in to the NFL Hall of Fame. And yet he never won a Super Bowl. Did he not succeed in life?

Not giving up, staying the course, persisting towards a goal may result in finally reaching that dream. Or it may not. And yet there’s something that happens within us while on that pursuit, as we go through challenges and trials. Scripture calls it character building.

I love the New Living Translation of James 1:2-4:

Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything.

I think of the character built in an athlete training for the Olympics who ended up in last place. Or the business owner who is able to survive but never really made the profits that he or she had expected. Or the mother who prays and prays for an adult child who is battling drugs or alcohol – and yet the child never overcomes their addiction.

As we keep facing defeats and discouragement, we could lose heart, protect our hearts, and just give up. Or we can keep going and let Christ change us more into His likeness while on this path of endurance. For if we never quite reach our goal and have the type of life we had once dreamed of, and yet we’ve allowed Jesus to shine more brightly through us during this refining process, then I would say we’re a winner. We’d be a victor in the eyes of Christ. That would be a victory much sweeter than winning a division championship. Or even a Super Bowl.

Jim