Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. Epistle of James 1:2-4, TNIV
Thank you, Clemson Tigers. Thank you, Coach Swinney. For the first time in a long time, your performance last night reaffirmed a core value that was instilled in me as a little boy and that I’ve tried to instill in my own children and others over the years: Never, ever give up.
The fancy word for what we saw last night is “perseverance.” To persevere is to do something in spite of difficulty. To persevere is to persist despite great odds. To persevere is to refuse to give up. Last night, the Tigers did just that. Thank you.
Studying on the theme of perseverance this morning, I found it interesting that the apostle James would begin his letter by exhorting his brothers and sisters in the faith with words about perseverance. When (not if) we face trials in life, James writes, we should consider it pure joy. But why in the world would we ever consider difficulties a cause for joy? Because, continues James, these trials are essential to our development as human beings and people of faith. These trials or tests – part of life for us all - in turn produce perseverance, and this perseverance is necessary if we are to become the people that God created us to be: mature and complete men and women who do not lack anything.
The apostle Paul in his letter to the Roman church speaks similarly of the relationship between trials, perseverance and our personal and faith development when he writes:
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith in this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. Romans 5:1-4, NIV
Like James, Paul understood that perseverance is closely linked with the formation of one’s character and also tied to the one virtue that arguably makes all other virtues even possible: hope. As the saying goes, “When the world says ‘Give up,” hope says, ‘Try it one more time.’”
I was raised by a strong-willed father and older brother to “Never, ever give up.” I’ve heard that hundreds of times over the years. But throughout my life, I can remember being so tempted to walk away from the challenges before me. I was tempted on the diamond in Little League. I was tempted during my first exam week in college. I was tempted during my years in business. I’ve been tempted throughout my marriage. And I’ve been tempted during my time in ministry. Like last night, life for us all is full of bad plays, bad breaks and bad calls. With each difficulty that comes our way, we have a choice to make. We can complain, or we can respond. Those with a grace-filled character find a way to pick themselves up, brush themselves off and reenter the game.
It is around this time of the semester that many students need a boost of encouragement. Some are homesick. Some are anxious about finding a job after graduation. Some are worried about mounting school loans. Some, like many on this 9-11 anniversary, are grieving the loss of a loved one. And some are trying to recover from a broken heart. I believe that to these and others who feel discouraged and downtrodden, the God of new life and new opportunities says, “Don’t give up. Keep plodding along. Take it one day at time. And remember, through it all, I will make sure you are stronger and more complete when you get to the other side.”
Brushing myself off,
lane
Rev. C. Lane Glaze
Director, Clemson Wesley
Campus Minister, Clemson UMC
PO Box 1703 Clemson SC 29633
864-654-5547 (o) and 864-207-9135 (cell)
Feel free to forward this email to a friend. The Clemson Wesley Weekly Devotional is a ministry of the Clemson Wesley Foundation, the United Methodist Church’s ministry to students on the campus of Clemson University. The purpose of this email is to look at issues relevant to the life of Clemson students through the lens of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If you would like your name added to this list, email Rev. Lane Glaze at glaze@clemson.edu.