Perseverance

"We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us � they help us learn to endure. And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation. And this expectation will not disappoint us. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love." - Romans 5:3 - 5

Our students are overcomers. We put them through quite a grueling schedule, often 16 hour days with interrupted sleep to pull late night War Room shifts. Not only this but the conditions in which they learn are not those with faint hearts. All of this displays our weakness and dependence on Him who provides strength from the inside out. This is how we know we are in training.

We are going through personal, emotional, spiritual struggles and not giving up. Most of these troubles are not our own. They are those of our neighbours. Last year I remember a seasoned War College student carrying the burden of her neighbour being beat up in the middle of the night. She prayed for intervention, we knocked on doors... and God worked within us, toughening us for these battles that we'll fight with love until Jesus comes. We are like the boxer, who is made a champion not in the ring but in his demanding training regime. We are like the soldier, who entering boot camp as a green citizen, is given a new perspective on the world, trained in military tactics and pushed beyond her own capabilities. The more we persevere, the more we are stretched, the more we grow, the more we become, the more use we are to God. Ultimately, we have a greater reward, a greater hope that is in heaven. The more we disregard our treasures and comfort in this world, the better off we are. One of my favourite quotes is this from CS Lewis, " Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither."

Next time I should blog about my theory of spiritual work-outs... It is just a theory...