Di Bassinga Diaries: Endurance

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. (James 1:12)

I've recently seen the necessity and beauty of running well for long periods of time. I’ve known about it, but only recently have I begun to feel the weight of it. I've been reading and writing through James—finding joy in trials by looking ahead to the reward, seeing maturity or completion in the end; looking back at God's victories to offer the encouragement needed to commit; and humbling oneself before God, recognizing what's truly important. What's been pressing me on recently, a sort of "war cry" of mine, an extension of maturity, commitment, and perspective, the idea that sparked this whole march through James, has been this one word: endure.

I want to run "the race” well: to get to end of my life, stand before the Lord on the Day, and be commended for my faith. That won't be done without a resolve to see it through, though. "It" being the walk, the narrow path of the believer in Christ, the difficulties that are promised when one gives their life to Jesus. The walk of faith isn’t always a blissful one in the park. It's filled with peaks and valleys, moments of joy and others that can leave us discouraged. It's especially difficult when you try to grasp at any sense of direction or control that you can, but find that there's often a lot more "unknown" to be grasped than anything. The Word gives us a promise we can hang on to, though: God will provide the way out.

"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with each temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." (1 Corinthians 10:13)

I've begun to see testing seasons, or periods of trials and isolation, waiting seasons—whatever else you might call them—for what they actually are: seasons. They’re fractions of a lifelong calendar which will pass with time. The speed with which they pass isn't in our control, per se, God is the one with the final say. But we certainly have a role in whether the season lasts longer than it needs to and in how painful it is in the meantime.

Pay Attention

"Let no one say when he is tempted, 'I am being tempted by God,' for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death." (James 1:13-15)

One of the mistakes we make when stepping through difficult seasons is forgetting that we actually have a say in how we respond and that we have an active part in how the season plays out. Where we tend to give into the frustrations and confusions surrounding us, taking on the identity of "victim," we'd be better off humbly accepting the challenge and remembering that we've been given a playbook—the Bible—to guide us even when things get difficult. And contrary to what we're tempted to believe, the choices we make in the little things actually play a huge role in the end. It's a matter of habit, which I'll touch on later.

Look at the people of Israel on their way out of Egypt. The people's dissatisfaction and rushed, emotional actions (Moses' included) led to a whole generation missing out on their Promised Land. What should've taken 11 days ended up taking 40 years. This is because they constantly gave in to the temptations that came, turning to idols and their own strength when it seemed God went quiet: they worship a golden calf (Exodus 32), they complain to the Lord (Numbers 11), and they eventually turn their backs on God (Numbers 14). Their actions were indicative of their hearts, which were selfish in nature.

It's easy to feel lost when we aren't getting the feedback we're looking for from God. But what is often taken as darkness and silence might actually be the shade of God's wings, His protection on our way to the end. It can be a reminder that you’re safe with Him, an invitation to look up and to press in or slow down. The more often we remind ourselves of the bigger picture—the reward to come and God’s past victories (or His character)—the likelier we are to endure in trial and in the next. The alternative is falling into the same cycles we knew so well before salvation, cycles whose end is death. So, we recognize our part, the role our hearts and desires play, then we adjust.

Mind Your Diet and Gaze

"Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures." (James 1:16-18)

Practically, this is done by praying and acknowledging God, constantly. It isn't the flashiest piece of advice. In fact, it's the same piece of advice I give to just about anything, because we're most vulnerable when we've forgotten God's character and Christ's act of love. In my experience, the first thing to go when I’m feeling down is my energy, and my natural tendency is to try and conserve it by pulling back from things: that includes spiritual disciplines and habits—prayer, Bible study, restful solitude, etc.—and it's more often the case than I'd like to admit. But those disciplines and habits, the lifestyle Jesus teaches, are actually the last things I can afford to lose. In reality, I can’t afford to lose them at all.

The peace and satisfaction that we so strongly desire in seasons of drought is truly only found in Christ. This is what might be called "turning the soul's gaze to Christ" or, even simpler, abiding. When we take time (even if just a bit of it, but preferably a lot of it) to remember who God is, who we are in Christ, and the bigger picture of heaven and eternity, then that call to endure—to move past the momentary temptation to compromise and into deeper surrender to God's eternal, loving presence—becomes much easier to answer. And that makes sense, because when we put our trust in Jesus, we align ourselves with One who’s been tempted in every way and prevailed. We align ourselves with the One who knows the way through, we align ourselves the Way Himself.

When endurance gets difficult, when it feels like you're being tempted and tested in ways you've never imagined, or that you simply don't have the same energy and fire you once had, it might also do you well to consider your diet. Take note of the things you turn to (or turn away from) when you get tired, anxious, or overwhelmed. The goal is obviously that our first place to go would be Jesus, but this often isn't case. I'm not calling you to judge yourself, that does no good; I'm just encouraging you to check.

Is it your phone, is it a cup of coffee, is it YouTube or Netflix, videogames, food, sleep, or something else that you might even be afraid to admit to yourself? Whatever it is, odds are it isn't drawing you to the Lord, even if it isn't evidently pulling you away from Him. These things aren't all bad, it's important to have hobbies and ways to relax; but the danger comes when we feel the need to escape to something that isn't God. Those things might be good, maybe they're bad and you know it. Regardless, God is better.

If you’re in a drought that seems to be never-ending, a season of isolation or testing, then I’d encourage you to make a special effort to look at God no matter what tries to take your gaze away, to run at Him no matter what threatens to trip you on the way. Before running off to who-knows-what, take a moment and turn your gaze back to Christ. Call on God as earnestly as you can and take the time and space to listen for His response; there’s nothing too big or too heavy for God to handle.

Maybe all that's required is a moment of silence and tears, that's okay. Whatever it is—if it's prayer, an hour or two of Bible study, a conversation with a friend, a moment in nature, or a literal moment in silence—let the Lord lead you through it. And if it might help you as it’s helped me, when things get difficult say to yourself as a reminder: “endure.”

Be blessed.