Hebrews 12:1 Since we have such a huge crowd of men of faith watching us from the grandstands, let us strip off anything that slows us down or holds us back, especially those sins that wrap themselves so tightly around our feet and trip us up. Let us run with patience the particular race that God has set before us.
There is a specific race uniquely designed for each of us. It is important to stay in our own race. In a running competition, anyone who crosses from their lane into another is automatically disqualified. Staying power means remaining in your appointed life course, no matter what.
Let’s draw inspiration from another character in the Bible who exemplified staying power, albeit imperfectly: Abraham, the Father of all nations. He is the prototype of the believer. So, what lessons can we learn from Abraham’s life to help us stay the course?
Don’t focus on perfection – Abraham did not follow God’s directions perfectly. He took Lot on the journey even though God told him to leave his kindred and family (Genesis 12:1-4). He gave his wife to the Egyptians to save his life and gain relief. God doesn’t look for perfect people; He seeks those who are available and have the right heart.
Hebrews 6:11-12 We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
Staying power is anchored in hope. It is rooted in God’s word, pressing into what He says with trust and confidence.
Romans 4:18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”
Abraham believed when there was no physical reason to believe. He anchored himself in God’s word and pressed on. Though his faith wasn’t perfect, he trusted in the One who is perfect.
Life presents challenges, but we get to choose how we respond to them. Stephen Covey describes it as a gap between stimulus and response. The stimulus could be an event like loss, pain, or disappointment. In this gap, four things come into play: self-awareness, conscience, imagination, and independent will.
We can see this play out in David’s life when he faced Goliath (1 Samuel 17:40-49):
David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.” As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.
David was self-aware that Goliath was challenging the God of Israel, not just himself. His conscience understood that Goliath was defying the army of Israel, which was wrong, so he took a stand. He had already imagined the outcome—Goliath would be killed by his hand and fed to the wild animals. He spoke it out. His independent will took a stand in the face of opposition, and he ran toward the battle line. This is how believers face the impossible.
To develop staying power, we can ACT to remain on track and finish our course:
1. Address the situation – We must recognize that we carry the mind of Christ and, in that nature, “call things that are not as though they were.” Caleb said, “Give me my mountain; let us go up at once.” Be decisive. Don’t mull over things or find comfort in stagnation.
2. Count Your Blessings – Reflecting on God’s faithfulness builds resilience. Lamentations 3:22-23 reminds us: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Taking time to recount our blessings can shift our focus from despair to gratitude, renewing our strength.
3. Take Charge in Prayer and Action – Philippians 4:6-7 encourages us: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” In prayer, we find peace and direction. Like Nehemiah, who prayed fervently before rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, we must take action grounded in prayer.
Staying power is not merely about enduring life’s challenges; it’s about thriving despite them. By embracing a Spirit-led mindset, we can navigate the complexities of life with grace and resilience.
Isaiah 40:31 “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.”
As we cultivate staying power, may we trust in God’s unwavering faithfulness and embrace the journey ahead.
