We’ve learned this week that endurance is the crown jewel of character traits. When you have it, nothing can topple you. No matter how tough things get, you can keep walking just like Jesus did. Hold on to the joy that comes from your faith. And like Jesus, no pain and no shame can stop you.
Endurance as the Crown Jewel of Christian Character
And so I want to close this week by these great words of Winston Churchill.
In 1941, he was asked to speak at his old alma mater, and the world was at war. There was much suffering all around. And Churchill got up and he said this: “Considering what we have gone through in this period of ten months, this is the lesson: never give in. Never give in, never. Never, never, never, in nothing, great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force, never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.”
Then he said, “Do not let us speak of darker days, let us speak rather of sterner days. These are not dark days. These are great days, the greatest days our country has ever lived. And we must all thank God that we have been allowed, each of us according to our stations, to play a part in making these days memorable in the history of our race.”
Those are some words! Never give in. Because even in these stern days, God is doing something great. Even in these stern days, we can be part of God’s great mission. If we hold to that, if we make that our life’s mission to love God and to draw others to Him, we will find joy even in our pain and suffering, and we will scorn the shame the world heaps on us.
Running the Race With Perseverance and Joy
The writer to the Hebrews said: “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfector of our faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:1–3)
May it be so for you today. And every day.
Christopher Hopper, an early Methodist preacher was hauled before a church court and chased by mobs, but found God faithful to defend him every time. A powerful word for anyone facing opposition to their calling.