Tenacity Amidst the Troubles & Trials
by Elaine Reimers, Adult Ministry Director
A simple Google search for the definition of the word tenacity brought me to the well-known section of “People Also Ask” questions and one of the questions listed was: “What does it mean if someone has tenacity?” Merriam-Webster Dictionary’s answer to this question is: “Tenacious is a mostly positive term. If someone calls you tenacious you're probably the kind of person who never gives up and never stops trying – someone who does whatever is required to accomplish a goal. You may also be very stubborn.” Although there are a few definitions listed, a definition of tenacity according to Google is: “the quality or fact of being able to grip something firmly; grip.”
I read this and immediately thought about the level of spiritual tenacity we as believers are having to develop in the middle of our personal and family life trials and troubles, not to mention in all of the chaos going on in the world we live in. Time continues to tick towards the return of the Lord and it seems that we must tighten the grip we have on our beliefs and our faith the closer we get. As the end times seemingly unfold before our eyes, how do we manage to remain steadfast in our walk and continue to fight the good fight? When nations are rising against nations and a pandemic claims the lives of around 7 million people (including people near and dear to us), how do we keep going? Although I don’t believe there are any wrong answers to these questions (provided that the answers help people to live a tenacious and God-pleasing life), I do know that God calls us to press on no matter what!
You don’t have to read very far into the Holy Bible to come across what I believe to be the very first example of tenacity- like EVER! Genesis 1:1 begins the story of the six days of the creation of the Heavens and the earth “in all their vast array” (Gen. 2:1, NIV). Then, after all of His tenacious work, Genesis 2:2 states that “on the seventh day God had finished the work He had been doing; so on the seventh day He rested from all His work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it He rested from all the work of creating that He had done” (NIV). Most of us can’t get through five days of work without feeling exhausted and overwhelmed, and that’s normally only 40 to 50 hours per week. The way I interpret the story of creation is that God worked tirelessly and relentlessly for 6 days straight! That is 144 hours of non-stop creative thinking and speaking things into existence. Psalm 121:3 (NIV) tells us that He neither slumbers nor sleeps. Now, I know we can never measure up to an all-powerful God on any level, but I have to believe that we embody at least a smidge of His tenacity since we were in fact made in His image and likeness (Gen.1:26, NIV). Although we will never be as great as the Great I AM, His example of tenacity in the story of creation is certainly inspiring and absolutely unique!
The other example of tenacity that stood out to me is from the Gospel of Luke. In chapter 18, verses 1 through 8, Jesus tells the disciples another one of His many simple (but OH-SO-GOOD!) parables about a careless and godless judge who, for some time, refused to grant a widow justice against her adversaries. The unnamed widow diligently and unceasingly pleaded with him until, due to her stubborn (or tenacious) will for justice, he finally granted it to her saying that even though he doesn’t fear God or care about people, he would grant justice to her so she would stop bothering him! Scripture states that Jesus shared this story with the Twelve to encourage them to pray and not give up. He closed the storytime asking the disciples if the godless and careless judge granted the widow justice, won’t God grant justice to His chosen ones who cry out day and night? Jesus promised not to put us off, and He promised justice, and quickly even!
It is so comforting to know that we don’t have to fight for justice and for things to be made right. We serve a God- THE God -who created the Heavens and the earth. He understands our exhaustion and our worries completely and He knows exactly what we need and when. We have access to Him through prayer and, believe it or not, we have permission to “bother” Him with our needs and concerns according to the previously mentioned parable straight from the mouth of Jesus. I encourage you as I encourage myself with this: No matter what you’re going through…don’t give up! No! Don’t give in, don’t stop, hang in there, stay strong, and never say die because God’s Word says “blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him” (James 1:12, NIV).
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