I Corinthians 15:58 (NKJV) Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
I find that I am generally most successful at an endeavor, when I exercise a particular brand of tenacity. That brand being, all in, set my sights on whatever it is and with focused determination pursue.
When practicing shooting, I know whether I am executing with tenacity, mindful of all the intricacies of my form, or just going through the motions, completing a set routine and calling it good. While hunting, especially elk hunting, if I lose my tenacious drive (or like one particular year never had it), I am almost certain to fail. It’s not enough to just hold on, endure and hope to make it to the end. Tenacity is a fired, determined, no quit approach to the pursuit of what it is that you KNOW you will accomplish. Tenacity is an unwillingness to give up, to endure, yes, but to endure with vigor. Tenacity is being willing to say, “this hunt is not going as I’d hoped. I’m beat up and worn out, but I’m headed for that saddle with vigor and determination, because I know that I don’t know what opportunity may await me on the other side.” Tenacity is a refusal to just hang on and pray the end comes sooner rather than later. Tenacity is watching an obstacle drop in your path and immediately, enthusiastically searching for a way over, under, around or through.
Tenacity is a great thing to strive for. It’s something I wish I could say I never lacked. Unfortunately, I sometimes do.
Tenacity is something that I’m learning needs to be applied to my pursuit of a greater understanding of God and my relationship with Him. I need to be tenacious about reading His word. I need to pursue, with tenacity, daily time in close conversation with Him. I need to tenaciously endure the hardships and heartaches that have and will inevitably come my way. In doing so, it shows my willingness to faithfully believe that no matter what it is or what the reason (known or unknown) He will not let me fail. His working of this level of tenacity in me serves as an illustration of His glory to all around me. Psalm 37:23-24 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way. 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the Lord upholds him with His hand.
We can merely hold on until this life is over, fix our grip and wait for that glorious day to come when we leave this world and join our Father in the eternal home He has prepared. Truthfully, I don’t believe that’s a shameful thing. For some to just endure the rigors the world throws at them is nothing short of monumental. However, for most I believe we owe it to God to be as vigorously tenacious as we can while we’re here. We have work to do for His kingdom, examples to set, relationships to cultivate, disciples to make. That doesn’t happen if we’re not in the game and tenaciously pursuing the possibility. Have a blessed weekend!
Philippians 3:12-14 (NKJV) Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
In full pursuit of the greatest Trophy,
Scott Pace
