Hang in there!

"By your endurance you will gain your souls."

(Luke 21:19)

There's a country song that's on my current playlist by Mitchell Tenpenny called "Drunk Me." It's a song about a bad breakup and how the singer can't handle drinking after the split, because it messes with him and he keeps trying to get back with his ex. The last line of the chorus is, "'Cause drunk me can't get over you."

But that's not the line that I was drawn to this morning while reading Luke 21. No, it's the very opening line to his song: "Some people don't know when to quit, and that's why they quit." Great insight. In Luke 21, Jesus is preparing his disciples for future persecution, oppression, and struggles. They will be arrested, harassed, and abused. Plus, Jesus own' the around to help them. Yet he encouraged them to hang on, finishing with a powerful statement: "By your endurance you will gain your souls."

We all face trying times throughout out our life. There's a saying that "80% of success is simply showing up." That may be true. But the other 20% might very well including sticking with it. That's part of college, isn't it? Sticking with 4+ years of classes and curriculum, going through the core requirements and electives, and eventually getting one's degree!?! But that's probably great wisdom for many other areas of life, too: work struggles, relationship issues, financial challenges, etc. "Some people don't know when to quit, and that's why they quit." (NOTE: It needs to be said, however, that sometimes it's necessary to LEAVE unhealthy situations!).

As people of faith, we're often called to endure. But the good news is that we don't have to go-it alone. God is always with us. The power of his Holy Spirit, and the presence of the Risen Christ can empower us to persevere (especially when we think we don't have it in us to keep on keeping on!). The Church, the body of Christ (and our communities of faith) can help keep us going when we feel like giving up.

May all of us have the strength to endure whatever it is that w'er going through.