Wednesday, September 14
Grit
Scripture: Isaiah 27-28, James 1
James 1:2–4 Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.
Observation
James advises us to rejoice when facing trials, testing, trouble because it’s producing endurance in us.
The word “endurance” translates the Greek word hupomone, literally, “to remain under.” It is the “capacity to continue to bear up under difficult circumstances—endurance, being able to endure.” It means fortitude, endurance, perseverance…grit.
James adds that if we develop endurance it will result in being “mature and complete, lacking nothing.”
Complete means all the necessary parts are there—think of the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. All there.
Mature means all the parts are fully developed. The fruit is mature, ripe, perfect!
The only way you grow and mature is to endure hardship. So rejoice!
Application
I see so many people who are giving up, quitting, rolling over when it gets hard. We lack grit. We need endurance! Grit! Toughness! Perseverance!
And there’s only one way to get it—go through tough times. Pampered people become weak, soft, fragile and stay immature.
The only way to build muscle is by using it, pushing it hard, tearing it down so that it grows back bigger and stronger.
The same is true of grit. You only get it by facing hardship and enduring. That’s how you build the grit muscle.
Let’s listen to James and rejoice when facing hardship. “Here’s my chance to grow stronger, to endure and get tougher, to persevere and grow some grit!” Without it, we’ll never mature. We’ll be immature, incomplete pansies!
Prayer: Lord, each time I face hardship, remind me to rejoice. This is my chance! My chance to grow some grit muscle—and become mature and complete.