The Value of Perseverance

A little known Aussie golfer ranked 339 in the world had a break-through win last weekend on the lucrative US golf tour. He triumphed with a one stroke win despite missing a one metre putt on the final hole. Steven Bowditch has battled depression for years and struggled to maintain his tour credentials. His win last weekend was a real tribute to his perseverance.
Perseverance is a wonderful quality. All the core commitments of life require it – Christian faith, work, marriage, raising a family – even being part of the church – require us to persevere. There may be times of change, but success in these areas does not come lightly. It comes over time as we continue to do what we know we are meant to be doing.
Our 40 day pilgrimage, and beyond, is about perseverance, too! We persevere in reading the Scriptures, in seeking God and serving God. It is a marathon rather than a sprint, a long haul rather than a short haul.
The letter to the Hebrews has a great deal of encouragement to persevere. It tells us to “hold unswervingly to the hope we profess”, to “spur one another on to love and good deeds”, to “not give up meeting together” and to “encourage one another” (Hebrews 10:23-25). We are to “run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (12:1).
The alternative strategy is the ‘bail out’ (give up) one. If you don’t like it, leave it. This is the easy solution, often advocated today, but leads to greater confusion and instability.
When Bowditch was asked what would change as a result of the win, he replied that he would just continue to do the same. He would continue his normal routines.
Whatever successes God may bring us in life, they are undergirded by those regular routines in which we persevere. They may not always seem to be exciting, but they are the bread and butter of life, and in them we find reward.
In what core area of your life is perseverance needed right now? How might your routines support and strengthen you to do so? What is God saying to you?