‘P’ is for…
Contributing Writer: Aaron Hedges, Inheritance of Hope Technology & Talent Director
In hard times, ‘H,’ we have openness, ‘O,’ to God. To continue living through hard realities while staying open to God’s goodness, we need the third part of our H-O-P-E handle – ‘P,’ for perseverance.
This biblical call to persevere is centered on Jesus, who persevered through hard times all the way to death and opened them to God’s transformation. But these verses remind us that there are also other worthy examples of perseverance. Those in the “great cloud of witnesses” have persevered through their journeys, giving hope that we can persevere through ours also.
Although they aren’t listed by name in the Bible, I have met many families at Legacy Retreats who are facing terminal illness yet exemplify perseverance. They are part of our cloud of witnesses. Because of their examples, I assure you that you are not alone, and I assure you that you also can persevere.
The Milligans are prominent examples. I had the privilege of living with them for about a year, and I felt the weight of terminal illness. Every time Kristen coughed, for instance, I wondered, “Is that ‘just a cough,’ like anyone would cough, or are tumors wreaking havoc on the neck and lungs of the aunt I love, my aunt?” I heard my then 8-year-old cousin moaning in the middle of the night, “I’m gonna die; I’m gonna die,” because he had a stomach ache and his young mind was consumed with death.
Despite such hard realities and many more besides, the Milligans were open to Jesus and have run with perseverance, through 9 and a half years of Kristen’s cancer, and now several years as a family missing a key piece. You know the same kinds of hard times (‘H’); you can know the openness (‘O’) and the perseverance (‘P’) too.
In hard times, ‘H,’ we have openness, ‘O,’ to God. To continue living through hard realities while staying open to God’s goodness, we need the third part of our H-O-P-E handle – ‘P,’ for perseverance.
Hebrews 12:1-2 says,“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also cast off every weight and the sin that so easily entangles us, and let us run with perseverance the race set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus…”
This biblical call to persevere is centered on Jesus, who persevered through hard times all the way to death and opened them to God’s transformation. But these verses remind us that there are also other worthy examples of perseverance. Those in the “great cloud of witnesses” have persevered through their journeys, giving hope that we can persevere through ours also.
Although they aren’t listed by name in the Bible, I have met many families at Legacy Retreats who are facing terminal illness yet exemplify perseverance. They are part of our cloud of witnesses. Because of their examples, I assure you that you are not alone, and I assure you that you also can persevere.
The Milligans are prominent examples. I had the privilege of living with them for about a year, and I felt the weight of terminal illness. Every time Kristen coughed, for instance, I wondered, “Is that ‘just a cough,’ like anyone would cough, or are tumors wreaking havoc on the neck and lungs of the aunt I love, my aunt?” I heard my then 8-year-old cousin moaning in the middle of the night, “I’m gonna die; I’m gonna die,” because he had a stomach ache and his young mind was consumed with death.
Despite such hard realities and many more besides, the Milligans were open to Jesus and have run with perseverance, through 9 and a half years of Kristen’s cancer, and now several years as a family missing a key piece. You know the same kinds of hard times (‘H’); you can know the openness (‘O’) and the perseverance (‘P’) too.