My prayer yesterday made me feel a little needy, but with so much going on in our lives it seemed necessary to ask Him for help. I am grateful that He wants to know what is going on in my families lives and that He never gets tired of hearing from me. I am truly blessed to have Him in my life and to receive so many blessings!
2 Kings 11
When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she was determined to destroy the entire royal line. So Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram and sister of Ahaziah, took Ahaziah’s son Joash and snuck him away from the rest of the royal descendants who were to be executed. She hid him and his nurse in the room where the bed covers were stored. So he was hidden from Athaliah ruling over the land.
They hid little Joash for six years. For six years they waited for the right time. For six years they endured this wicked woman. For six years they lived in fear, vigilantly looking over their shoulder to protect themselves and the young king. What kind of life was that for them or for the king? This was more than enduring the situation. I found this quote which sums it up pretty well:
"Tenacity is more than endurance. It is endurance combined with absolute assurance and certainty that what we are looking for is going to transpire. Tenacity means more than just hanging on, which may be only exposing our fear of letting go and falling. Tenacity is our supreme effort of refusing to believe that our hero is going to be conquered." ~Chambers
These people were spiritually tenacious! They had Christian tenacity; as in an undefeatable determination of purpose (not to be confused with carnal mule-headed stubbornness), to do whatever was set out before them by God.
What would I choose? God has put, and will continue to put, challenges in my life. How will I choose to react to these situations? How important is it that I show spiritual tenacity in my life?
I have actually been labeled tenacious, but I'm pretty sure it was more of the mule-headed stubbornness type. I didn't really take it as much of a compliment, more of, women you are driving me crazy let it go!
But after reading this story I think I would really like to be more spiritually tenacious, but how?
First, I have to make the choice to do it! The choice is critical! It let's God know that I am on his side, no matter what, 100% of the time. My choice shows my personal commitment and is between me and God.
Second, I need to remember that this is a continual effort. In our story it took six years for all their work to pay off. Spiritual tenacity requires time! We are given the opportunity daily to decide to follow God and renew our faith and commitment to Him. When we have the tenacity to stick with our choice—the determination to follow God no matter what may happen in our lives—then we receive the blessing of strength to stay in it for the long haul.
Third, in order for there to be a need for tenacity in a spiritual sense, there must be hardships. I can only imagine the hardships faced by those in this story. The fear, the wickedness, the loneliness of being segregated. To be tenacious in character requires difficult trials.
What would I choose? God has put, and will continue to put, challenges in my life. How will I choose to react to these situations? How important is it that I show spiritual tenacity in my life?
I have actually been labeled tenacious, but I'm pretty sure it was more of the mule-headed stubbornness type. I didn't really take it as much of a compliment, more of, women you are driving me crazy let it go!
But after reading this story I think I would really like to be more spiritually tenacious, but how?
First, I have to make the choice to do it! The choice is critical! It let's God know that I am on his side, no matter what, 100% of the time. My choice shows my personal commitment and is between me and God.
Second, I need to remember that this is a continual effort. In our story it took six years for all their work to pay off. Spiritual tenacity requires time! We are given the opportunity daily to decide to follow God and renew our faith and commitment to Him. When we have the tenacity to stick with our choice—the determination to follow God no matter what may happen in our lives—then we receive the blessing of strength to stay in it for the long haul.
Third, in order for there to be a need for tenacity in a spiritual sense, there must be hardships. I can only imagine the hardships faced by those in this story. The fear, the wickedness, the loneliness of being segregated. To be tenacious in character requires difficult trials.
Fourth, I need to understand that being spiritually tenacious is not an in-your-face type of behaviour. Tenacity is about our inner commitment. I was most impressed by the quietness of the story of caring for Joash. I think sometimes we think of tenacious people as those that are in your face about something and argumentative. Instead, spiritual tenacity brings with it a quiet determination to do God's will. The priest and the nurse cared for Joash quietly, everyday going about their work. I need to do the same in my work.
Fifth, showing spiritual tenacity brings a humbling experience of sacrifice. It is the nurses story that planted this thought in my head. This woman sacrificed six years of her life to care for Joash. Six years of secrecy and fear, yet she is only mentioned in one verse. There is no entry in the scriptures that I could find that showed that this woman was upset by the lack of notoriety. She had quietly served the Lord with spiritual tenacity. She is a great example of sacrifice for us.
When I first read these verses I had no idea that the Lord would have so much to teach me from them. As a Christian, I am grateful for the examples of spiritual tenacity found in the people of this story. Their actions have inspired me to make an effort to work on my own spiritual tenacity. It is a good goal to have others find you quietly going about the Lord's work!
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