courage – walklikejesus

Marching on – joining God’s restoration

September 11, 2020Posted in Endurance and sufferingTagged Call to action, conquest, courage, disheartened, Faith, fear, hopeLeave a comment

If there was ever a time to “rebuild, restore, repair” (Isaiah 61:4) a nation, the time is now. Covid-19 hit South Africa hard in a time during which it was reeling from the blows of post-Apartheid tensions, wide-spread corruption, a series of droughts and ongoing political instability. Today, unemployment is at an all-time high and our economy has shrunk by 50%. Racial and socio-economic polarization is ever widening and social unrest is a common occurance. The education system is struggling to meet the need. Infrastructure is deteriorating. The social fibre of families and communities are fractured, resulting in lower morals, violence and a general sense of hopelessness. The “rainbow nation” dream we embarked on 25 years ago seems as evasive as the pot of gold grounding this colourful symbol of hope to our land.

In this dire situation, there is a call for the courageous ones to lead the charge. But rather than courage I see even faith-filled people disengaged from God’s invitation to “rebuild up the ancient ruins; raise the former devastations; repair the ruined cities”. The waves of devastation persuade many to defect from God’s Kingdom quest to renew all things.[1] Others seem distracted from the call to rebuild by their pursuits of security and comfort.[2] Many will admit that they are dismayed – pacified from terror by scale decay and destruction. Sadly, the majority of faithful, courageous Kingdom veterans seem disheartened, weary from the repeated efforts to reconcile, rebuild and restore a nation in pain; They have lost confidence in their ability to make a lasting impact and are tired of trying.

Can you identify with one of these groups? Because if you can, the historical account of Jonathan and his armour bearer will speak not just into our contemporary context, but also into your heart.

1 Samuel 13 opens with the newly crowned King Saul and his son Jonathan leading the oppressed tribes of Israel in combat against the Philistines strongholds in Gibeah. By God’s grace, they had success in these two battles, and 30’000 men joined King Saul’s army. However, the Philistines responded by marching an innumerable mass of foot soldiers, 30’000 chariots and 6’000 horseback riders. The Israelites were terrified, knowing that they were not only outnumbered but also outclassed by Philistines technology – they had no blacksmiths who could produce iron weapons like their enemies.

These overwhelming odds left Saul’s army intimidated. After one week 24’000 defectors, dismayed, and distracted soldiers abandoned the quest to liberate Israel from its oppressors. And the 600 who were left were dismayed, hiding out in a spot where the Benjamites also fortified themselves for four months a few years earlier.[3] However, 1 Samuel 14 shows how two men’s faith in God not only brought about a great victory but revived the hearts of the soldiers to trust in God and fight for the restoration of Israel again.

This account was recorded as an encouragement and example for God’s people facing similar overwhelming odds.[4] What can we, facing equally devastating challenges, learn from this inspiring story?

Lessons from Jonathan’s quest

The contrast between King Saul and his son Jonathan is striking: while the king and his army were “taking it easy” (14:2 MSG) in their hideout, Jonathan remembered that there is a cause. Yes, he could play it safe and enjoy his status and comfort, but Jonathan’s conviction persuaded him the crisis called him to act in courage. In a similar situation, three chapters later, his future friend David challenged the cowering soldiers’ passivity: “Is there not a cause?”[5] Jonathan was compelled to act on his conviction. Yes, it is safer and more comfortable to secure yourself, to stay away from the destructive forces and maintain the status quo, but there is a cause that calls for courage.

Jonathan’s courage would make Brene Brown very proud: he planned to be vulnerable and show up in the face of fear, and trust in God. Outnumbered, with only one sword, in an exposed, defenceless position at the bottom of the ravine, he tested his conviction to check whether indeed was with him in this endeavour. He acted in humble faith, not arrogant presumption. Jonathan knew that Israel’s covenant God had delivered his people from even greater dangers in the past and that He was faithful and able to save them from this situation. But he did not pressure that his plan was indeed Israel’s plan, and therefore he checked with God before climbing the cliff face into combat.

Once his check confirmed his conviction that God is indeed calling him into this conflict, Jonathan was confident to climb into combat. But he was not alone – the prince was comforted by the companionship of his dedicated armour bearer’s vow “I’m with you all the way.” And where two of more agrees about anything, there the Lord is present, commanding a blessing. The Lord’s cooperation in their fight was more than their strength in combat: the Lord himself was fighting for the liberation of his people from oppression, “the ground itself quaking”. He did not send Jonathan into battle on his behalf – he was inviting Jonathan to join him in the liberation of his people.

The chaos of combat attracted the attention of the look-outs above king Saul’s hideout. Learning that the cries came from his son’s charge against the Philistine garrison, Saul called the priest closer to inquire the will of God (through some ritual). But the noise of combat became so loud that he got the army to combat. God was in the move, calling Israel to join the deliverance!

Courage is contagious, as we see in this account. The disheartened regained strength, the defectors returned to Israel’s army, the dismayed reemerged from their hideouts, and the distracted rejoined the quest to rid the land of evil. And therein is the hope for our day: one believer who responds to God’s invitation to join him or her in his quest to rebuild, repair and restore will instil the courage to those disengaged from God’s Kingdom mission to renew the land.

A call for our day

It is tempting to flee from the devastation that is sweeping over the country. It is comforting to gather with God’s people for safety and avoid the dangers and oppression in the world around us. It is easier to focus on personal security and comfort of our homes. But ignoring the pain and destructive forces will only embed the ruin for coming generations. Like Jonathan, the Lord of Liberty and Life is calling him to join him as he tackles the evils that enslave the nation.

Landa Cope writes of research into “the most Christian city in America” where Dallas, Texas boasts the most active Christian Church attendance and giving in the nation. The sobering outcome of the study reveals that mere devotion to God and church activities has seemly no impact on the wellbeing (peace) of the city. If the charge on the church could be summed in the phrase “Let God’s Kingdom Come”, or “seek the peace of the city”[6], then this research suggests that mere church attendance and ministry among the members utterly fails the mandate of the church. We are called to get out of the safe spaces and engage the enemies of God’s kingdom with the Lord of Hosts.

And like Jonathan learned, this text shows us that God is on the march with those who dare, and all barriers bow in his presence among his people.

“What ails you, O sea, that you flee?
O Jordan, that you turn back?
O mountains, that you skip like rams?
O hills, like lambs?

Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord,
at the presence of the God of Jacob”

Psalm 114

This account is both comforting and inspirational to me. An oppressed and divided nation, led by a cowardice ruler and self-preserving security force was captured by a hoard of coordinated, brutal plunderers. One man had it in his heart to risk his comfort for the cause, confident of God’s power and faithfulness. He did more than recapture that piece of land; his charge inspired the confidence of Israel’s fighting men. Imitating Jonathan’s trust in God will be rewarded by God’s cooperation, as well as the spreading of contagious courage.

This text calls me to quiet down and consider where God calls me to join him in his work of restoration and reconciliation. Which “garrison” of evil we would love to see demolished first. What cause is close to us, always in our mind and on our heart? Which companion will join us in this charge? But before we move, we need to check whether this is charge is something the Lord is inviting you into, at this time.

[1] Revelation 21:5; Matthew 19:28-30

[2] “A soldier refrains from entangling himself with the affairs of this world” (2 Timothy 2:4)

[3] Compare 1 Samuel 14:1-4 with Judges 20:47.

[4] Romans 15:4

[5] 1 Samuel 17:29

[6] Jeremiah 29:7

A call to courage

March 10, 2016Posted in Endurance and sufferingTagged community, courage, endurance, hope, suffering1 Comment

Our world is scared, and increasingly so. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the US today according to the National Institute of Mental Health affecting one third of the North American population, with a staggering 37% and 50% increase in occurrence among children (ages 4-10 and 11—19) over the last decade. It is estimated that anxiety disorders cost the U.S. more than $42 billion a year, nearly one third of the country’s total mental health bill.

But the cost of anxiety is not limited to medical bills. The fear of terrorism has caused an arming 114 percent increase in the US defense budget in the last 13 years, which would total about $586.5 billion in 2016 (by far the greatest in the world). In addition the global security technology and services market which is expected to total $86 billion this year.

Our world is a scary place. Our society is characterized by a sense of anxiety and vulnerability, daily fueled by images of terror and rumors of impending disaster. But we are not the first generation passing through these shadows of uncertainty, uproars and unrests. Like the generations before us we need to overcome the urge to panic.

This is a call to courage. It’s not the time to be anxious, to be intimidated, to succumb to terror. As we see the climate is changing, the shadows drawing longer, we need to look back and find courage from the accounts of others that have navigated similar moments in history. During Nero’s reign Paul urged the anxious, persecuted believers to look into the the Scriptures for “learning… encouragement… comfort… [and] hope” (Romans 15:4). And what examples of courage does the Scripture not have!

Abraham left all he knew for promise from God in his spirit. Later he pursued five kings with their armies to save his nephew Lot from slavery. Noah, a preacher of righteousness had courage to confront a perverse generation and build the ark amidst their mockery for 120 years. Young David stood up to Goliath the giant. Joshua and Caleb were not intimidated by the giants in walled cities and trained armies that occupied their Promised Land, patiently waited forty years and in their old age lead the nation to possess this land. Daniel walked into a den of lions, and his three friends into the fiery oven because they would refused to bow to another god. He did falter to fear but told Darius straight-up “God found you too light!” Moses confronted the terrifying Pharaoh demanding release of all his slaves, and then led the entire nation into. Queen Ester risked her life when she approached the Persian king to save her generation from annihilation. Nehemiah did the same to rebuild the holy city. Gideon and his small army walked unarmed into a Midianite camp with 15’000 soldiers. Samson single-handedly took on 1’000 Philistine warriors. Jehoshaphat led the whole nation into the dessert against three massive armies. Elisha was besieged by the entire Syrian army but walked right up to them and led them into siege. Elijah challenged all the Baal prophets to a public showdown asking “Who is the real God?!” Jonah walked into the most violent city of his day as a foreigner, demanding repentance and submission to his God. Prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Malachi, Amos, Hosea, Nathan and John the Baptist willingly chose a life of mockery, poverty and pain as they confronted kings, rebuked hypocrisy, and exposed the injustice of the day.

Jesus, son of God, left the comfort of heaven, the honor of the throne, the worship of the angels and the power of divinity to enter a life of pain, poverty and persecution – ultimately to suffer brutally and die shamefully. All because “God so loved the world.” And his courage set the pattern for his followers, as we see in the first beatings of Peter and John, the first martyr Stephen, the hardships of the Apostle Paul history of the church throughout the ages.

How do we grow in courage?

In Joshua 1:1-9 we see the Lord giving a pep-talk to the new leader called to lead the Hebrews to occupy their land inhabited by Giants in secure cities. We learn much from this instruction about how to “take heart” when times are tough.[i]

Courage must rise in the face of fear. There is no need for courage when everything is plain sailing, when all is as it should be. But in the threat of pain of discomfort, loss or death, when the natural inclination is to hide or run away, that’s the que to take heart! The Lord told Joshua to be courageous because the situation was terrifying. A sense of fear must trigger the response to courage.

Courage has a cause. When there is no need, no urgency, no mandate, there is no need for courage. When one puts his hand into a lit furnace for no reason he is rightly labelled a fool. But a woman who runs into a burning house to save her daughter is a hero. Joshua had to be courageous to fulfill his mandate. Bravery is called upon when the fight is worth it. Courage is needed to uphold the righteous purposes of God.

Courage is gained in the knowledge of God. Joshua was told to not forget “The Book of the Law” which Moses left Israel. Today we have it as the first five books in our Bible. Why would that help Joshua to grow in courage? Because it records – from Creation to Exodus – the accounts of God’s wisdom, power and loving faithfulness with his people. Joshua would be “encouraged” every time he reads how faithfully and powerfully God had preserved and delivered his people in desperate times past. Thus courage is gained as we become convinced and get reminded of God’s power and might – that truly “nothing is impossible with God” (Luke 1:37). Courage grows as we learn from these accounts who God is: that God is good, righteous, faithful and merciful. This revelation of God’s power and character is preserved in Scripture as records of his interaction and decrees, so we get to know God and are encouraged as we read these accounts of divine intervention (Romans 15:4). Indeed, “but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.” (Daniel 11:32)

Courage is gained in the assurance of God’s presence. The Lord encouraged Joshua with the promises of his personal presence. More specifically “as I was with Moses” – thus Joshua was promised the same intimacy with the Lord, the same faithfulness in preservation and the same powerful interventions which Moses experienced as he lead these people. What an encouraging promise! The Lord made that same promise of companionship his ascension (Matthew 28:20), and that companionship we experience in the empowering presence of His indwelling Spirit (Romans 8:11). We grow in courage as we grow in revelation of the Lord’s personal presence, declaring with David “The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” (Psalm 118:6)

Courage is infectious. The Lord encouraged Joshua. Before these words of encouragement Joshua was intimidated and anxious. But the words of encouragement put the necessary strength into his heart to go on and fulfill his mission. That’s why we are repeatedly called to “encourage one another” (1 Thessalonians 5:11) – literally “put courage and strength into the heart of another”. We get encouraged through deliberate effort to be built up, but also indirectly as we see others or hear their stories as they continue courageously amidst hardship, thinking “If another can do it, so can I.” Courage is infectious, as we can see in this video

Read here how to Encourage One Another (https://walklikejesus.net/2015/09/10/encourage-one-another/)

Courage is a choice. The Lord’s repeated commands of courage implies a choice to succumb to fear and intimidation or to take heart and continue with his commission. We either choose to allow fear to dictate our actions, or we choose to allow courage to reign in our hearts. So Jesus told his disciples – as he is saying to us today “Let not your heart be troubled…believe in me” because “In the world you will have trouble. But TAKE HEART; I have overcome the world.” (John 14:1; 16:33) These exhortations from the Lord demand a response, a resolve to not allow fearful situations to “trouble your heart” and dictate your actions. So when there’s a choice to fight or flight, choose to fight and persevere.

Add courage to your faith

Life in the kingdom of God is not for the faint-hearted – it never was, it never will be. The kingdom suffers violence” said Jesus (Matthew 11:12). Our world is unfriendly and uncertain. But so it was in the days of Jesus and the Apostles. Their society was oppressed by the Roman army and heavily taxed by Caesar, plagued by perpetual civil unrest and terrorism, divided by extreme classism. For that reason Peter exhorted the church to “add to your faith COURAGE“ (2 Peter 1:5). Mere saving faith does not make you fit or fruitful to fulfill your mandate. Our mandate is clear: peacemakers, Kingdom-bringers, heralds of the Good News.

So “don’t be anxious about tomorrow…” (Matt 6:34), don’t live a life pacified by fear or paralyzed by what can go wrong. Fear steals your joy and taps your strength. Reflect on this truth: if God is for us, who can be against us!? Then look up, shape up, sign up and step up. TAKE HEART, finish the job, then we can go Home.

[i] Note the incredible similarity in form of the appeals to courage to complete the divine mandate with assurance of the Lord’s power and presence in the following texts: Solomon’s charge to build the temple (1 Chronicles 28:20), Joshua’s command for conquest (Joshua 1:1-9), the disciple’s commission (Matthew 28:18-20), the angel’s warning about Paul’s shipwreck and appointment with Cesar (Acts 27:24-26) and the Corinthian’s church charge to not fear death but continue in their faith (1 Corinthians 15:57-8).

It took ten plagues…

September 30, 2014September 30, 2014Posted in Endurance and suffering, Practical ChristianityTagged courage, doing good, endurance, endure, pereseverance, peresevere, persist, persistence, prayer5 Comments

It took ten plagues for God to deliver the Hebrews out of Egypt. I remind myself of this truth often. Imagine with me: Moses meets God at the burning bush, takes off his shoes and falls on his face in fear of this Great I Am. God sends him to Pharaoh to command the release of his people (he tries to get out of the job, unsuccessfully). (See Exodus 4, 7)

Moses walks into Pharaoh’s palace (where he grew up and from where he fled some 40 years earlier) and stands face to face with the ruler of Egypt who believes he is a god; Moses’ confidence is in Aaron his spokesperson and the two wondrous signs in his hands, given by God. “Let God’s people go!” says Moses. As a sign that he is sent by the One True Living God, he throws his shepherd-staff on the ground and it becomes a snake. But then the court magicians did exactly the same with their sticks – what an unexpected surprise! The magicians could do the same sign God gave as proof of His divinity and supremacy!

When Pharaoh did not let God’s people go to worship the Lord, Moses performed the first plague by turning all the water in Egypt to blood (Exodus 7:20-21). Yet Pharaoh’s heart was hardened and unwilling to let God’s people go.

We know the history. It took nine more signs before Pharaoh let the Hebrew slaves go. The one sign was not enough. Two plagues could not do the job either. Did Moses miss God when he turned the water into blood and Pharaoh did not release the slaves? No. Did he do something wrong that caused the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart? No. Moses had to go to Pharaoh ten time and instruct him to release the slaves ten times and call down ten plagues upon the Egyptians. It simply took ten plagues for Israel to be delivered from Egypt – Moses needed to be persistent in obeying God. There is a need for endurance.

This Biblical account is not unique in illustrating our need for persistence. During Israel’s battle with the Amalekites they had the militant advantage for as long as Moses kept his hands in the air (Exodus 17:11). Noah was persistent in obeying God to build an ark for 120 years and preach repentance to his generation, yet only his household was saved (Genesis 6:22; 2 Peter 2:5). Abraham’s persistent faith for an heir is commended by God, so that he was called “friend of God” (Genesis 22:18; Romans 4:17).

More contemporary examples of persistence, its needs and rewards are captured in the memories and legacies of William Wilberforce who dedicated his life to the abolition of the British slave trade, and Thomas Edison for his persistence in the design of the light bulb. Persistence pays off!

The Bible has much to teach us on a need for persistence. It is fueled in prayer before God and results in faithful acts of obedience.

Persist in prayer

I have heard many people teach and encouraged demotivated individuals to pray once, believe and “leave it with God”? Yet the Biblical text is full of examples and instructions regarding persistence prayer. Jesus himself once prayed for a blind man, but afterward he could not see clearly. So Jesus persisted in prayer and the man’s sight was fully restored (Mark 8:23-25). He instructed and encouraged his disciples likewise to persist in prayer, saying that they “always ought to pray and not lose heart” (Luke 18:1). He taught them “ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you” (Luke 11:9). Although less clear in the English, this instruction in petitioning, acting and persevering for a desired outcome is given, implying persistence until the desired outcome is achieved. His own life was one of persistent, passionate prayerfulness (Hebrews 5:7; ). The disciples followed Jesus’ example of persistent prayer and modeled it to the early church (Acts 1:14; 2:42), also instructing them to “persevere in prayer” (Ephesians 6:18), “be steadfast in prayer” (Romans 12:12) and to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

Examples of persistent prayer also abound in the Old Testament. Abraham persisted in prayer for Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18:23-33). Jacob’s persistence in wrestling with the Angel of the Lord secured him with the blessing of God and a changed identity (Genesis 32:24-31). Moses persisted in prayer on behalf of God’s grumbling, unthankful people for forty days so that they were spared (Deuteronomy 9:25). Hannah was shamelessly persistent in her petitions for a son, and Samuel was born (1 Samuel 1:10-12). Likewise Zacharias’ and Elizabeth’s persistent prayers were heard, and John the Baptist was born (Luke 1:12). Simeon persisted in prayer for Israel’s Savior and he was rewarded to lay his eyes on Jesus before his death (Luke 2:25-32). Elijah persisted in prayer and the draught over Israel was broken (1 Kings 18:42-45). Daniel had a disciplined prayer life (Daniel 6:10-11) and persisted in prayer for the restoration of his nation until he was heard (Daniel 9:1-3; 10:2-3, 11-12).

But persistent prayer must be accompanied by persistent faith in action. In the Psalms and elsewhere in Scripture, “waiting on God” and “hoping in God” are typically used as synonyms for persistence in prayer and obedience while waiting for God’s intervention (e.g. Psalms 88 and 130; Isaiah 26:8 and 40:30-31). There is a need for persisting in doing good as well.

Persist in doing good

Jesus’ life is the perfect example of persistence in doing good (Acts 10:38), of doing the Father’s will (Matthew 26:36-45; Philippians 2:5-8). His disciples followed his example and instructed the church to do the same, and “not grow weary of doing good” (Galatians 6:9; 2 Thessalonians 3:13) but remain “steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58)

Joseph’s life is an example of someone who persisted in doing good, even though he was victim to much betrayal an suffering. (Genesis 41:43, 44) Although he suffered unjustly at the hands of his brother and as slave to Potiphar and as prisoner in jail, he persisted in doing good, and God continued to bless him, until later he was appointed as ruler in Egypt. (Genesis 39:10, 12, 23). Because of his persistence and faith God entrusted much to him.

Nehemiah’s life is one of persistence and faithful endurance. Amidst great resistance from without and within (Nehemiah 2:19-20), even in the face of war (Nehemiah 4:7-9), he obeyed the burden of God to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, to remove the shame of his people and to restore true worship in Israel (Nehemiah 8:1-3). Likewise, the lives of the David, prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Amos, and Hosea as well as the early church serve as inspiration to us of persistent faithfulness to God, suffering ridicule and rejection, imprisonment, beatings and even fatal martyrdom in faithful obedience to God.

Is there something you are “waiting” or “hoping” for in God? Have you tried but failed, even though you did what God commanded you? Then remember: it took ten plagues to deliver the slaves from Egypt. Don’t give up!

So what are you trusting for? Do you have unfulfilled dreams or unanswered prayers? God has not forgotten you – he cannot (Isaiah 49:15). He hears your prayers and is willing and able to intervene (Isaiah 59:1), but you have need for persistence, so pray and work until your bucket is full (Revelations 8:4-5).

Follow the example of our Biblical heroes. Remain determined in your dream. Do not wobble due to residence, do not yield to pressure. Be not spineless in the face of the impossible nor waver when the wait is long. Are you weak or battle-worn? Then “Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” (Psalm 27:14; see Isaiah 40:31)

But be steadfast in your faith, tenacious in your pursuit, unshakeable on your course. Be relentless in your prayers and unremitting in doing good. God honors persistence!

Never give in!

August 31, 2014September 1, 2014Posted in Endurance and sufferingTagged celebration, comfort in scripture, community, companionship, courage, endurance, hope, never give in, Schackleton, strength, sufferingLeave a comment

“Men wanted: for hazardous journey. Small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger. Safe return doubtful. Honour and recognition in case of success. Sir Ernest Shackleton.” 5000 men responded to this blunt advertisement posted in London newspapers January 13 1914, applying for the Imperial Trans- Antarctic Expedition. Shackleton selected a crew of 28 who proved to be optimistic, patient and courageous – the minimum requirements he sought for in a man who boarded a ship with him. They set sail from London in the ship aptly named “Endurance” on the first day of August 1914 and stopped over at the whaling station on South Georgia for fresh supplies. After a month they departed for the Antarctic on December the 5^th for one of the most grueling adventures undertaken by man, unaware that they would not touch land again for another 497 days. On return to England three years later Shackleton published the account in his book South in 1919, documenting the journey, events and experiences of their expedition, including the following five legendary survival accounts.

Due to an unusually cold winter the ship entered pack ice much sooner than expected. Just one day’s journey from the Antarctic the Endurance got stuck in pack-ice on 18 January 1915, drifting gradually away from the South Pole for ten months with the ice until the ship tipped and was crushed to pieces on October 27, 1915.

Endurance slowly breaking through pack ice

The men saved what they could and drifted for another five months on the ice until the ice started melting and the food became scarce. On 31 March 2016 Shackleton woke up from a soft crackling sound to find that the ice beneath him split in two; he instinctively reached his hand to grab the sleeping bag of the man sharing his tent just as he was slipping into that icy, black water. During the ice-splitting they were also separated from their life rafts for some time but they managed to retrieve it again. The next day he gave the command to board the three life boats.

The life-saving achievement was the harrowing journey through the Weddell sea to a rock called Elephant Island, 100 miles in the three small life boats, navigating one of the roughest seas with 60 foot waves blown by gale-force winds. The three boats had to be dragged on top ice floes at night to rest. They managed to reach Elephant Island, and eventually found a suitable camping terrain.

Their third legendary survival story started on 24 August when Shackleton and five others boarded the small 22ft life boat called the James Caird and made way for South George, from where they departed about 500 days earlier 800 miles away. (That is the distance between Cape Town and Johannesburg!) After a grueling 17 day journey in the stormiest sea, navigating by dead reckoning with a compass and sextant only with merely four sightings of the sun, the six men reached the island exhausted. This is still considered one of the greatest boating achievements ever.

Crew boards James Caird for South Georgia

The next survival feat was equally impressive, born from necessity as the men landed on the wrong side of the island. To get to the whaling station for help and rescue of their friends Shackleton, captain Frank Worsley and second officer Tom Crean began to cross the ice-bound mountain tops of South Georgia – never before attempted, including the 9000ft Mount Paget. During their 36 hour ordeal without any rest they travelled across two snowfields, four glaciers and three mountain ranges: all of these unmapped and life threatening. The last bit of their journey, being severely fatigued, dehydrated and shivering, Shackleton lowered his two friends down a partially frozen waterfall before abseiling down himself and waking the harbor master at Stormness whaling station, asking for help.

Lastly, the survival and rescue of the 22 men marooned on Elephant Island for more than 137 days is commendably in itself. They used the two life boats to construct a hut of sorts to stay warm. Due to the roughness of the sea it took four attempts by Shackleton and his men to rescue them, only managing to reach them with the steam boat Yelcho on 30 August 1917, two years and one month after their departure from England.

This story of endurance and courage is inspirational – in spite of the failure to cross the Antarctic – because Sir Earnest Shackleton succeed to bring all 28 the men home safely; they endured and survived the impossible together. Part of their survival had to do with what Shackleton took with them as their ship Endurance was crushed by the pack ice: in spite of the lack of space in the three life rafts he instructed that they take a rugby ball, the gramophone as well as the big Bible. He insisted that they daily laughed together, told stories and read the Bible together as encouragement in hope, daily played sports together, and daily sang together. For him, humour, story, song, playing and prayer was keys to endurance – and it proved true.

Shackleton was a God-fearing man who lived and lead though this ordeal with Godly courage and persistence. Looking at his example of endurance, and comparing it with examples and teachings from the Bible, what can we apply to navigate through our own hardships with “Endurance”?

(1) Comfort of Scripture

As mentioned above, Shackleton ordered his men to rescue the ships’ big Bible and take it with them on their journey to safety, knowing that the Scriptures are in part a compilation of God’s miraculous deliverance and preservation of people in desperate circumstances, as were they. Their faith in God’s salvation from this seemingly hopeless situation would be stirred as they read they reflect on the accounts of God’s awesome deliverance of individuals and communities as recorded in the Bible.

New Testament Authors encouraged their suffering communities to look at Old Testament characters (as well as their leader’s examples of steadfastness) to find strength to press on in faithfulness to God. Paul reminded the persecuted church in Rome that “whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope” (Romans 15:4). James encouraged the poor, persecuted church in Jerusalem to “consider the blessed who remained steadfast” with special reference to Job and the Old Testament prophets (James 5:10-11). The author of Hebrews encouraged his suffering readers to “consider [Jesus] who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls” (Hebrews 12:3). Thus they all pointed to the exemplary lives recorded in Scriptures for encouragement during difficulty.

The history of God’s faithfulness in Scripture comforts us during hardships because we see that we are not alone in hardship – many have been there; and the Biblical accounts testify to us that God is present during suffering to strengthen and preserve, and that he is willing and able to save. Thus the Scriptures comfort us and stirs our hope and faith in God.

(2) Companionship in community

Shackleton knew that for the 28 men to survive this ordeal, they should not just live in community, but also practice community. That’s why he commanded that every one participate in four group activities daily: they eat together, play sports together, pray and reflect on Scripture together, as well as sing, tell stories and laugh together. These moments of togetherness brought great encouragement and camaraderie amidst the protracted stressful times. He understood and articulated that for the group to survive, each individual needed to survive. If no-one gives up, the group endures.

In relation to their survival and community, I find C.S. Lewis’ quote on friendship quite fitting: “Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art… It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that gives value to survival.” For the crew stranded in Antarctic, their community was a reason to endure in itself; their companionship gave both motive for and meaning to their survival.

(3) Celebration of life

Shackleton wrote in his journal during their long winter drifting on the pack-ice “As we clustered round the blubber stove, with the acrid smoke blowing in our faces, we were quite a cheerful company…Life was not so bad. We ate our evening meal while the snow drifted down from the surface of the glacier and our chilled bodies grew warm.” They were thankful for what they had; their companionship, warm food and their survival was reason to laugh.

Going through life with the optimistic perception of “glass half full” makes endurance possible, and life so much more pleasant. Jesus put it this way (referring to money in the context of a financially oppressed Judea) “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!” (Matthew 6:22-23). Shackleton lead his men on in “light-filled eyes”, celebrating what they had amidst a cold, seemingly hopeless situation.

Paul encouraged the persecuted church in Philippi to do the same, to emulate his discipline of focusing on the good and praiseworthy, so that “the peace of God will guard your hearts and minds” (Philippians 4:6-8). Instead of becoming anxious about trying circumstances he instructed them to pray about their situation, but “with thanksgiving”, helping them recognize and celebrate the goodness of God amidst difficult circumstances. This is a worthy lesson to learn for anyone, anywhere.

Thanksgiving and celebration makes hardship tolerable and gives one strength to carry on. These disciplines gives strength in trying times by focusing attention on that which causes joy and gladness – truly, “the joy of the Lord is your strength!” (Nehemiah 8:10). By focusing attention of the good it trains one’s perception to see what God is doing, recognizing that God is near, and “He will never is leave you, nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).

(4) Continuing in hope

Shackleton never allowed his crew to give up. They were always moving forward, always planning and preparing for tomorrow. In his mind, and from his mouth, it was clear that they were going to get home to England. He never gave up on hope, and never allowed the crew to slide into hopelessness, because he knew that hope is necessary for endurance. If a person believes that nothing is going to change for the good, that person sinks in the mud of depression and hopelessness, and finds no reason to fight and or live on. But if one believes that pushing forward today will be rewarded in the end, it is worth it.

The author of Hebrews frequently motivate endurance with the promise of reward (hope), for example “you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise” (Hebrews 10:36) and later encouraging the readers to “run the race with endurance, looking to Jesus… who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2, compare with 1 Thessalonians 1:3). Jesus found strength to continue through tremendous suffering, his eyes fixed on the joyfilled reward at the end.

Paul imitated Jesus’ example, as he was a man who experienced great difficulty, including “afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger, …slander, …being poor” (2 Corinthians 6:4-10). In another place he records “imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.” (2 Corinthians 11:23-28). How did he endure these hardships? He kept his eye on the reward, a “crown of righteousness” (2 Timothy 4:8) saying “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” (Romans 8:18; see also 1 Corinthians 3:14, Colossians 3:23-24). Paul joyfully pushed one through suffering in hope of eternal rewards in the Lord. He reckoned that suffering briefly for eternal rewards was worth it, making these moments of pain bearable.

(5) Courage from God

Finally, God gives strength to press on in difficult times – to those who “wait on the Lord” (Isaiah 40:30-31). I have over the years learnt from David, who knew the Lord as “my strength” (Psalm 18:1, 118:14, 140:7), to “seek the Lord and his strength” (Psalm 105:4) when my I feel weak or ready to give up. I have learnt to “wait on the Lord [to] strengthen [my] heart” (Psalm 27:14), and also to “strengthen [myself] in the Lord [my] God” (1 Samuel 30:6) as David did in hopeless situations. With the Shepherd-king I can witness that “the Lord gives strength to his people” (Psalm 29:11) when I set time aside to pray to God for courage, strength and hope to continue doing what he calls met to do, although everything in me wants to walk an easier road.

Paul also testified that Christ Jesus has given him strength in trying times (1 Timothy 1:12), and could therefore pray for the Ephesian church that God would strengthen their hearts (Ephesians 3:14-16) amidst the persecution, encouraging them to “be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might” (Ephesians 6:10). Thus we learn from Paul that one should find strength in God, but also that through encouragement and prayer from others one is strengthened by God. From his example we learn that we should encourage one another joyfully and hopefully press on, to “strengthen the weak hands and make firm the feeble knees” (Isaiah 35:3) of those facing hardship around us. Strength is found in God’s community.

Making it personal

If you are reading this as someone going through hardships now, I want to re-tweet the thrust of John’s message to the persecuted churches in Ephesus: “Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.” (Revelations 13:10, 14:12). Although your suffering might not be religious oppression, you must know that your endurance is noticed and commended by Christ himself (Revelations 2:2, 19). He will put and end to your suffering One Day (Revelations 21:3-5) and if you endure in faith to the end, he will give you your reward from him (Revelations 22:12).

And in the words of Paul: “Run the race in such a way that you may revive the prize” (1 Corinthians 9:24). “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer” (Romans 12:12), and may “the God of endurance and encouragement” (Romans 15:5) “strengthen you with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy” (Colossians 1:11). “Press on, that [you] may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of [you]” (Philippians 3:2).

It is appropriate to close this lesson on endurance from the exemplary life of Sir Ernest Shackleton with the words from Winston Churchill, since he was the man who sent the last telegram to the Endurance crew as they left the London harbor for their trans-Atlantic expedition on August the 1^st, 1914. Later that day the war with Germany broke out, leaving the whole of Europe in turmoil for the next forty years. On October 29, 1941, Churchill then Prime Minister visited Harrow School to hear some of the traditional songs he grew up with and address the learners. Standing in the podium he stared at the youngsters long and hard, and then uttered the following short and urgent admonition: “Never give in – never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.” [audio recording] During tough times let this phrase ring in your ears, as you remembering the enduring examples of Jesus, Shackleton, Paul, the prophets and the saints through the ages. Never give in!