2026-07-27
Brooke Strong
Sermon Text...
Romans 5:1-5 (NIV)
Will you join me in prayer:
God of all things, may we listen to hear the wisdom and hope that you offer us and may it change us for your greater good. Amen
“Suffering produces perseverance, perseverance produces character and character hope.” This was the theme for our Colorado Kids on their Faith Journey that they just completed last week. Having led this group for 27 years and having been on the trail… sucking air in the very high elevations. The physical struggle is very real. But when the group reaches a goal together, when individuals push through the thoughts of “I can’t do this” it changes something within everyone and the group.
God isn't only interested in us surviving hardship. God is interested in changing us through hardship, through struggles.
Perseverance is defined as the steadfastness and continued effort to achieve a goal or persist in a course of action, even when faced with difficulties, delays, or discouragement. It is the mental and moral strength to keep going when things get tough.
Here are the Key Characteristics of Perseverance:
Persistence, Tenacity, Resilience and Patience.
- Persistence: Continuing to move forward despite the obstacles.
- Tenacity: Holding a firm grip on your purpose or objective.
- Resilience: The ability to pick yourself up after a setback and keep trying.
- Patience: Understanding that long-term goals take time and effort to accomplish.
PATIENCE… here is a real-life practice of patience in Martine’s and my life. for three years (Marked by the time we have lived with our rescue Springer Spaniel Winston) … we have not watched any one of our three TVs with any peace… if it all. See, Winston is a sweet and loving boy who gets an elevated level of energy and gets caught in a barking loop whenever the TV is on… so we watched Cavs games and the Guardians on our IPads… but we have a long term goal for him J We try to work patiently through this quirk of his… helping him realize he doesn’t need to get so jacked up and crazy… it takes patience, as I said, he has been with us for three years! And if we persevere… we will succeed! Prayers are welcome!
Since my heart is often focused on the natural world … Martine suggested that I should share a few of lessons where Nature shows us remarkable examples of perseverance—the ability to continue despite obstacles, hardship, or repeated setbacks.
Such as, Salmon Swimming Upstream –
Salmon travel hundreds of miles from the ocean back to the streams where they were born. They leap over waterfalls, battle strong currents, and avoid predators like bears to complete their journey and spawn. Determination despite overwhelming obstacles takes perseverance!
I often find myself in a situation where I feel like I am moving against the current and maybe you can relate too.
It is Amazing to see Trees Growing Through Solid Rock (Something you see in Colorado for sure) Seeds can germinate in tiny cracks in rock. Over many years, roots slowly widen those cracks, allowing the tree to establish itself in places that seem impossible for it to grow.
When we face challenges with small and consistent effort we can overcome great obstacles.
How about the Monarch Butterfly Migration. Each fall, monarch butterflies travel up to 3,000 miles across North America to their wintering grounds in Mexico. No single butterfly completes the entire annual cycle—multiple generations continue the journey.
Perseverance across generations and through adversity. Generations of people, taken from their homeland and forced into a life unfit for anyone… still to this day, strive and persevere to make a better way for the generations to come.
How about Spiders Rebuilding Their Webs A spider's web can be destroyed by wind, rain, or animals, even us…walking through the park and getting it all over our face. Many spiders rebuild it repeatedly, often overnight, without giving up.
If you get knocked down… get back up and start over when necessary.
Then there is Bamboo's Slow Beginning Many bamboo species spend years developing extensive root systems before showing much above-ground growth. Once established, they can grow several feet in just weeks, which is why it is a great sustainable resource for clothing and paper.
Invisible progress often precedes visible success. We can work at anything… like my art…my photography is important to me and I have spent a lot of time sitting patiently for a good shot… and I have spent years learning how to present my work that brings me joy and the sign of success is finally believing in my abilities.
And finally, I offer Desert Wildflowers Some desert wildflower seeds remain dormant for years, waiting for just the right amount of rain before blooming spectacularly.
Having patience and being ready when it is your time to bloom, and don’t judge your progress based on what others are doing.
the Common Theme is this:
Continuing despite repeated setbacks. Adapting to changing conditions. Relying on steady, incremental progress. Remaining focused on a long-term goal. Enduring hardship with resilience.
Nature reminds us that perseverance is rarely about speed—it's about continuing forward, even when the path is difficult.
I want to share the following words from Alex Parker, she is a life coach located in Alberta, Canada, I follow her on social media… with her permission, I have paraphrased a piece I heard earlier this month…
“We once again watched A League of Their Own, great movie! There's a quote in that movie where Jimmy Dugan, the coach, is saying “it's supposed to be hard, if it wasn't hard everyone would do it, the hard is what makes it great.” I love that quote and it comes in a moment where Dottie Henson is thinking about leaving, quitting the Peaches, which she does, but then she comes back probably because of this quote. So, it got me thinking about the concept of hard. I think it's easy to conceptualize difficulty in a sports movie, basically all sports movies have the same story arc, and I started thinking about how we really glorify objectively difficult endeavors especially when they challenge a human body. Like sports or endurance events and yes, those things are very hard. I know because I've done them, but they aren't the only hard things and for many people, including very talented athletes, athletics, sports, pushing their body isn't hard. It comes naturally and it can be a way to avoid more challenging feelings or doing work that's harder. Like stopping, slowing down, resting, being with your body and with your thoughts when you aren't pushing them away into submission. So, I think this quote “if it wasn't hard everyone would do it” could be tweaked a little bit to be “if it wasn't hard you'd already be doing it, if it wasn't hard, you wouldn't be avoiding it, if it wasn't hard, you wouldn't be denying that you need to do it, if it wasn't hard, you wouldn't be leaning away from it. The hard makes it worth doing, the hard is what makes it a great goal, but the hard is what scares you. Because, you don't yet know the version of you that will come out the other side, and the hard doesn't guarantee success. Just like in the movie, the Peaches don't end up winning the World Series even though Geena Davis comes back. But what the hard does guarantee is that you will grow, and you will discover new things about yourself along the way. In fact, you can't grow while leaning away from whatever it is that you're resisting, you must lean into it, and those things are going be different for everybody.”
The Salmon swim upstream against powerful currents. Their perseverance is extraordinary because they are moving toward the purpose for which they were created.
"What if a salmon spent all its strength swimming in circles instead of upstream? It would still be working hard—but it wouldn't be fulfilling its purpose."
Likewise, we can expend enormous effort on the wrong battles.
Alex Parkers words continued:
“Maybe sports training is the right thing for you, maybe you'll learn something from committing to that process and seeing it through. Maybe you'll develop a new love for movement that you've struggled to have in the past but maybe you've already got that dialed in and it's the quieter, invisible work that's knocking at your door. Whatever it is, it is great, it's going to be hard but it's also going to be great and definitely worth doing”
Physical perseverance feels safer.
Physical struggles have clear rules.
- Train harder.
- Work longer.
- Push through pain.
- Measure progress.
Mental and spiritual struggles are different.
You cannot simply "work harder" to heal grief.
You cannot outwork pride.
You cannot exercise away unforgiveness.
You cannot lift enough weight to overcome shame.
Sometimes we choose the challenge because we think we can control it rather than the one that requires work.
I, in recent years have been intrigued by the Philosophy of Stoicism. It seems to fit my way of being and adds to my Faith experience.
Originating in Athens around 300 BC. It teaches that the path to happiness is found in accepting the moment as it presents itself, by not allowing ourselves to be controlled by the desire for pleasure or fear of pain, and by using our minds to understand the world around us and to do our part in nature's plan. This Philosophy has strengthened me to survive the social and political climate we have found ourselves in in our recent history.
The Stoic mindset rests on a few key pillars:
First is the idea that some things are in our control, like how we set our thoughts, what actions we take or how we respond … and some things are not in our control, such as other people's opinions, the weather, the past, and the future.
Ancient Stoics believed that the only true good is a virtuous character—specifically, acting with wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance (with Self-restraint).
Some may think that Stoicism leaves you emotionless…it doesn't mean being emotionless; rather, it means practicing emotional resilience and not letting destructive passions like anger, anxiety, or grief dictate your behavior.
Stoicism teaches that the key to a good, flourishing life lies in cultivating personal virtue, rational thinking, and emotional resilience, while accepting the things outside of your control. And when I say accept… I don’t mean ignore, rather look to what you can do to make a positive change for yourself and for the collective good.
Here are some questions we can ask ourselves…
What struggle have I become comfortable fighting?
What struggle am I avoiding?
Am I asking God to make me stronger...or to make me truer to myself, truer to who God has created me to be?? How about Gerald the Giraffe in today’s Young at Heart moment. He was laughed at and so discouraged that dancing didn’t seem to be his thing…UNTIL the right music was playing and his rhythm came to life.
Finally, Am I enduring pain...
or allowing God to transform me through it?
You can work hard. Care for your body.
But don't neglect:
- confession
- forgiveness
- repentance
- prayer
- counseling when needed
- accountability
- rest
- dependence on the Holy Spirit
Many people will spend years strengthening muscles while leaving their hearts untouched. The Christian life isn't simply about proving how much we can endure. It's about allowing God to shape who we become as we endure.
The experience in the Rockies has always been about opening up the Spiritual Heart, all while you are proving to yourself that you can do hard and sometimes scary things.
"Don't just ask God for the strength to keep carrying the weight. Ask Him whether it's the weight He intended you to carry. Perseverance isn't merely refusing to quit—it is faithfully continuing in the race God has marked out for you, allowing every trial to draw you closer to Christ and make you more like Him."
Look to Pastor Michael’s series the past two weeks and what is to follow. Take root, prepare the soil, prepare your soul for the growth God is dreaming for you. Grow, look around, notice what is growing in others and be the best that God intended you to be. And in the weeks ahead, we will Bear fruit and Sow what we have become.
I would like to Share this poem by local Cleveland Poet, Beth Bitterman, The World is our Gallery (Beauty reveals itself to those who choose to see) from her book Nature’s Lessons.
Consider closing your eyes as you listen as if she is writing about and to you.
Nature’s abstract creations
waiting for us to find them,
wanting us to discover their wonders.
As we behold their glorious imagery
of abstract forms and colors,
the beauty and creative inspiration
they awaken us.
The gallery of nature’s masterpieces
is all around us.
From the broad strokes of nature’s brush
to the palette that shapes vast landscapes,
something stirs within our souls
a quiet yearning
to take that photograph,
write that poem,
paint our own creation.
Inspiration flows
From the divine creator of everything
to the divine creator within ourselves.
Awakening a deep longing in our souls
To express the creativity
that has always lived inside us.
The divine artist shows the way,
and our souls answer with creation.
May you set your sights on being the best you that you were created to be! Amen