Remedial Classes

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” -James 1:2-4

Growing up, I used to read the dictionary for fun. Besides that tome, I read stacks of books each week. I loved learning and I loved school and I excelled at it. But in my spiritual life, I sometimes feel I find myself in the remedial class going over lessons again and again. Even after I think I’ve mastered them, God reveals how much more I have to learn. One of those lessons is perseverance and at times this year, the challenges designed to produce it within me have stretched my faith muscles beyond what I would’ve said I could endure.

Still, I’ve been here many times before. As I run these spiritual marathons, the Enemy of my soul throws every obstacle at me he can. Fatigue. Depression. Worry. Discouragement. Conflict. His hurdles may cause me to stumble as I continue to run the course, and they may even cause me to fall. But they will not force me to quit. No matter how much instruction I continue to need in order to persevere, I will listen. I will learn. I will grow. And one day I will reach the finish line. My prayer is that I then hear the words every follower of Jesus longs for Him to speak to them: “Well done, good and faithful servant.” (Matt. 25:23)