Endurance

There is a man in history that many of you may be aware of​ his name was Thomas Edison. You probably remember him for one of his most famous inventions, the light bulb. But did you know Edison examined over 10,000 different substances looking for the filament for the bulb​? ​He went through over 2,000 bulbs until he had his breakthrough moment. During his research Edison was interviewed by a reporter, the reporter asked Edison if he felt like a failure and if he thought he should just give up by now. Perplexed, Edison replied, "Young man, why would I feel like a failure? And why would I ever give up? I now know definitively over 9,000 ways that an electric light bulb will not work. Success is almost in my grasp." And shortly after that, with over 10,000 attempts, Edison invented the light bulb. That couldn’t have been easy, dealing with disappointment, starting from square one time and time again​,​ not knowing if this was going to be the one that worked. I am sure​ ​​Edison​ ​ ​must have felt disappointment along the way​; however,​ ​he stuck with ​ ​​his efforts​​ ​because he knew how important it was to reach his goal of helping people see in the dark. Sticking with ​his goal​ changed our lives forever.

In the same way,​ ​without endurance there are some things we might never see completed. Jesus said, “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows; but cheer up, for I have overcome the world” (John 16:33b).​​ ​Despite what some people will tell you,​ Jesus never assured us that life would be easy​.​​ ​​I​in fact​,​ ​ ​he said the exact opposite. But​,​ as Jesus lived without sin and defeated death through his resurrection he proved to us that he could overcome the world. Now our belief in his strength and power help us to endure even in ​difficult times. As leaders and parents we need to help raise up a generation that understands​​ ​what it means to keep doing what is right​. It's called endurance. We say endurance is sticking with what you started even when it gets tough. We know parts of life are going to be hard yet​,​ in spite of hard times,​ ​ we can have hope and never give up. Through endurance we learn to trust God’s promises so we can experience the joy of completing what we began.

Being a part of God’s one big story isn’t always easy. We will face tough situations in big ways and in small ways, but it is always worth it to show endurance and stick with what you have started. This is something God gives us both the power and the strength to do. I believe that something happens in my heart, something happens in your heart, something happens in the heart of a child​, when we all understand it is the very nature of God to finish the work he started. This is why we teach children endurance. We know it really is worth it to stick with it and finish strong because that is how God does it. Kids need to grow up understanding first that God never gives up on them and second, that the God who never gives up gives them the power to never give up, even when it’s tough.