Jesus Invites Us To “Press On” During the Trials Of Life…

As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. 
You have heard of Job’s perseverance 
and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. 
The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. 

James 5:11 NIV

Monarch butterflies have a wingspan of only 3.5 inches, weigh less than half a gram, have no real form of self-defense other than the fact that they don’t taste good to eat, have a natural life span of
only a few months, and can only fly at a speed of four miles per hour (without wind). Despite this, they embark on an annual migration from southeastern Canada to northwestern Mexico and back again that totals approximately 3,000 miles! Monarchs have been known to travel 375 miles in 16 hours without touching down, and they have also made it across the Atlantic Ocean and been found in southwestern England. Talk about perseverance!

Similarly, Emperor Penguins endure winter temperatures as low as 70 degrees F below zero by huddling together in the Antarctic wilderness on open ice with no shelter or protection. Females lay a single egg and then waddle (at a slow but steady pace) 100 miles to the sea and back over 65 days to get food for themselves and their soon to be hatched new baby. Meanwhile, the males hold the egg snugly within their fur while balanced on top of their claws for two months—if the egg touches the ice for even a second the baby penguin will instantly freeze to death because of the intense cold. The penguins repeat this process annually. Talk about perseverance!

As we commemorate Jesus’ journey to the Cross, we read about Jesus teaching persistence in Luke 11:5-13. Here Jesus highlights an elderly widow who succeeds in getting justice because of her dogged perseverance. We too can take a lesson from this aged widow, the Monarch butterflies, Emperor penguins, and King Jesus Himself as we strive each day to love Him with everything we have and to love all people as we love ourselves. Such a high calling and difficult task is impossible on our own strength, but we can truly do all things through Him who gives us strength. May we, through steady perseverance, continue to trust in God when all seems lost and
continue to love, forgive, share, teach, lead, comfort, and bless all those within our reach, both today and afterwards as well.

QUOTES

“The best way out is always through.” (Robert Frost)

“By perseverance the snail reached the ark.” (Charles Spurgeon)

“When you find yourself going through hell…KEEP GOING!” (Winston Churchill)