Perseverance -steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.
Biblical perseverance – ...but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. Romans 5: 3-5
It’s month 6 and The World Race is teaching me a great deal about perseverance, especially this month living in Tanzania, Africa. I am not sure exactly what it is. but life here is plainly a lot different from living anywhere else. The people are extremely different, the culture varies from any other, and it is the farthest I have felt from home. The race as been leading up to these three months in Africa where there is no glamour, no comforts, and very little luxuries. Africa, is a striped down version of life and adjusting to such lifestyle these first few weeks was challenging.
Living in America you have access to anything and everything you want at anytime of the day. It is all readily available at your finger tips and you rarely experience not getting what you wish you had, something as small as a napkin or wash cloth. But these are not needs, they are nice things to have; comfort items. However, the Lord as blessed us with many pleasant items such as a western toilet versus a squatty, a bed to sleep in, food on the table, and a roof over our heads. “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father know that you need them.” Matthew 6:31-32 This month we have all of our needs provided for because God knows that we need them and he chooses to bless us. And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19
God did not call us to a life of comfort he called us to a life full of him. He didn’t always promise flowers and rainbows. He says we are going to endure hardships (For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him Philippians 1:19) and that’s where it brings me to this month in Africa and a lot about what he has been teaching me. Perseverance. It’s suffering for Jesus that I am proud to suffer because I know he is training, teaching and moving across this land.
In Psalm 119:76 it says “May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant”. As a blessed and thankful child of his, I am learning for Jesus to be my comfort alone and not lean on those things around me. He’s renewing my mind to be content in whatever circumstances I am in because he as placed me there and where he has me is where I am supposed to be according to his good and perfect will. “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances.” Colossians 4:11
Now after being adjusted to living in Africa nearly a month it’s been easier to really discover happiness in the Lord and in him alone because having him as my Savior is more than enough. He has revealed to me that Africa is not my home and neither is America. My citizenship is in Heaven and that’s where I put my hope in. Where ever Jesus is, that’s where my home is and right now it’s in Singida, Tanzania because he is always by my side. I am feeling more and more happiness everyday because he is teaching me what it means to be content in all circumstances. I have certainly not been able to do this on my own strength but his that he gives me because “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrews 12:1
