Sermon On Perseverance

Denis Waitley, an American motivational speaker once remarked: “Failure should be our teacher, not our undertaker. Failure is delay, not defeat. It is a temporary detour, not a dead end. Failure is something we can avoid only by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing.” Proverbs 24:16 reminds us: “For the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity.”

Perseverance is defined as doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success. It can include tenacity, determination, pertinacity and the resolution of mind to reject hindrance from an apparent setback which may be deemed to obstruct progress or opportunity.

Failure is usually considered as a lack of success. It can also refer to the neglect or omission of expected or required action. For some, it is regarded as a weakness, which may lead to a loss of confidence or self-worth. It is a sad, but normal fact of life that sometimes we may experience failure. Failure is a negative response to effort we have diligently strived for, or struggles we have attempted to overcome. Success in anything is never guaranteed, but what we learn from failure might be considered more important than success itself. Failure always presents the option to try again if we are of a purposeful nature. Given that, a second chance in life often creates a new perspective of structured thinking, to enable things to be seen in a different light, and a new and more definitive approach adopted. The same principle can apply in our relationship with God.

However, considered adversely, it also allows the opportunity to walk away from a possible future success if we are so inclined. This may be considered as a defeatist attitude. Winston Churchill, a former prime minister of Great Britain once remarked: “Success is not final, Failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 reminds us: “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Most successful inventions or innovations in life encounter an element of failure during construction. We learn that a particular way or method doesn’t work and so we consider an adaption to the original format. This may occur several times before success is eventually achieved. Failure teaches us the flexibility to surmount the obstacles of life. It creates hope and conviction in a new thought process which enhances our mindset. Romans 5:3-5 confirms: “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”

For many, the true essence of life is about winning the day. Perseverance opens the gates to fruition, it unhinges the locked turnstiles that block a forward passage and allows access to greater accomplishments. Psalm 108:13 reminds us: “With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes.”

A story is told of a young buck who left the warren and his family nest to explore, on his own, the wonders of the big wide world. As he journeyed across the meadows and fields, close to where he lived, suddenly there was a loud snap followed by a sharp searing pain. He had found himself entrapped in a farmer’s snare hidden in the undergrowth of the large estate. One of his hind legs had become well and truly enmeshed in a metal contraption and he was unable to move. He valiantly attempted to free himself, twisting and turning, to no avail. He felt he had failed miserably in his attempt to discover life with the freedom that was so earnestly desired and should have listened to the sound advice of his parents. Proverbs 12:15 confirms: “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.”

He waited and pondered on his future fate. He had been warned by his mother of the dangers of venturing out alone, who also explained that if he was not careful, he may well end up on the dinner platter as a nourishing evening meal.

Just then, a young boy, who was walking his Labrador, approached and saw the distress that the rabbit was in. He took compassion on the youngster and prised the snare apart to free him, gently talking to the animal as he did so. The young rabbit, although now free, just froze in fear and trepidation and so the boy picked the rabbit up and took it home to his mother.