Perseverance

Kurt Warner and the Arizona Cardinals will face the Pittsburgh Steelers tomorrow in Super Bowl 43. Sports reporters have talked about Kurt Warner’s story of going from a stock boy in a grocery store to 2 time MVP and Super Bowl quarterback. Then injuries, ineffective play, and other circumstances left Kurt Warner as an afterthought to professional football for 5 years. There were a lot of opportunities for Kurt to give up during this time and a lot of built in excuses including: 1) I’m too old, 2) I don’t have enough talent around me, 3) I don’t think people aren’t treating me fairly. Kurt chose to persevere during those tough years and was able to have a fantastic season (4,583 yards, 30 touchdowns) and led the Cardinals to their first Super Bowl ever.

Joseph is another example of how perseverance can lead to God being able to lead us through tough times and ultimately be exalted for conducting His work. Joseph was his father’s favorite son (Genesis 37:3). Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery in Egypt and told his father that he was dead (Genesis 37:23-33). One of Pharaoh’s officials bought Joseph’s services. He was so impressed by Joseph that he trusted Joseph to be in charge of everything in his house (Genesis 39:4-6). Joseph was thrown into prison after being falsely accused of rape, but God was still with Joseph. Ultimately God placed Joseph in charge of Egypt (Genesis 41:41) and allowed Joseph to save his family from the famine occurring in Israel.

What circumstance are you persevering through right now? Whatever it is, know that God is there for all who have trusted Christ as Lord and Savior. Just because things don’t seem to be working on our schedule doesn’t correlate into the fact God is not working. David asked “How long?” four different times in Psalm 13 before finally arriving at the conclusion that “I trust in your unfailing love” and that “He has been good to me”. Let’s remember what God has done, is doing, and will do in our lives and keep working for the His glory.