The days have started to warm up, but it’s still a little colder than I like it in the evenings. Easter is coming, but there is still that edge on the weather that reminds me it’s not time yet. I have to bide my time and wait for the pullovers and shorts. It seems to have been a strange winter with real severity at times. I guess some of the aches from those days are still left in my bones. However, the end is in sight and I am going to have to keep on keeping on. Oh, for a winter home in the Caribbean!

I don’t know why I feel anxious after being shut up all winter. I think it is just who I am – someone prone to activity rather than stillness. Nonetheless, quiet times can also be moments to savor. Constantly moving, changing and freedom is not always what’s needed. Maybe that is why “God doesn’t answer our prayers” at times. There is something to be learned during the process of thinking, reasoning, evaluating, testing, as well as trial and error. I’ve learned waiting can actually be rewarding.

As you know, I would rather deal with an issue than wait. I relate to “fight the good fight.” (1Timothy 1:18, 6:12) However, even 40+ years as a martial artist, I do not seek a fight. I have learned there are times when biting my tongue and waiting were better answers. Shortcuts rarely lead to meaningful answers. Think about your life. What events had the greatest impact on your character? In most cases it was the painful, pressure-packed incidents you survived. Once you faced them, walked through and completed them, you were a stronger person. That concept is why God said through Isaiah, “For since the world began, no ear has heard, and no eye has seen a God like you, who works for those who wait for him!” (Isaiah 64:4) Our human nature causes us to find ways to end the pain and get a quick fix, rather than to let God fight for us and heal us through the pressure of the moment.

Scripture uses the Greek word hupomone to help us visualize the concept of perseverance. Hupomone means “to be steadfast and display endurance regardless of whatever trial or suffering one faces.” (Strong’s concordance) One of its two root words, meno, means “to remain in a place or state of mind for a period of time.” Maintaining endurance in the midst of extended challenges requires real determination, even for people who naturally possess a stubborn mindset. Learning to grit your teeth and keep on going, especially when the circumstances are troublesome, is not the norm in our culture.

I know you can achieve spiritual success. You can do it during the dry spells and periods of testing – even if those challenges cause anger or depression. James reminds us that these struggles only last for seasons in our lives. You need to know that if you just keep keeping on you will eventually see the light at the end of the tunnel. (James 5:7 – 8) The secret is learning to walk through the process, knowing the journey brings wisdom. The Holy Spirit will help you keep the stress of life in perspective.

Love Dad