Mamertine prison...and steadfastness

It's been a tough week...well, actually in many ways it's been a tough summer.  

Yes, lots of happy, fun this summer--the absence of homework, the mountains with our family, the trip to Italy with our girls (so much joy, so much gratitude--thank You, Jesus!), wonderful dinners out with friends (my kitchen has forgotten who I am--I wonder if our stove still works?), the family reunion at the Homestead, and, oh, did I mention NO homework?  Hallelujah!

But the last few weeks have held their share of heart-crushing sorrow--several dear friends who have gone home to be with the Lord.  Sickness.  Disappointments.  Children flying the nest and leaving a too-quiet home. Not to mention the struggles of growing older...and tireder...and confronted with change and more change on every front.  

For the record, I rarely like change.  Let me rephrase that--I almost always despise and resent change.  Give me the status quo any day--people you love staying healthy.  Beloved neighbors staying put and not moving.  Older family members staying strong and sharp.  Children--yeah, you guessed it--staying at home and not growing up and moving away.  Shoot, even restaurants we've enjoyed for years staying open and not closing.   

When faced with so many of life's difficult but relentless changes, it's mighty easy to give in to discouragement or wallow in self-pity.  Because let's face it--life isn't easy.  It's so true that this world is not a playground but a battleground, and everyday we open our eyes, we need to be armed and ready with a battleground mentality.  

Not, mind you, an attitude of hostility.  No, no!  Instead it's an attitude that's powered by the mind of Christ and grounded in the Word of God.  I love the words of James that we will be studying in our Bible study this year: "Count it all joy my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  And let steadfastness have its full effect that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." (James 1:2-4)

Don't you love that word, "steadfastness?"  

It means the ability "to endure patiently...a steadfast person is one who is reliable, faithful, and true to the end...Perseverance."  Who doesn't want and need that?  No matter life's changes or difficulties, we want to persevere, to faithfully endure to the end and to do so with joy and faith.  And James says that when steadfastness has it's full effect in our lives, we will be "perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." Sign me up!  

But here's the thing--such steadfastness of character, such indomitable joy, such completeness and even perfection requires one thing--trials.  

No trials and difficulties...no steadfastness.  

But add struggles and changes to the mix, and you'll discover steadfastness...and develop joy, gratitude, strength, love, peace, and hope that no longer ebbs and flows based upon your ever-changing circumstances but remains certain and secure based upon your ever-faithful God.   

I'm going to talk about this more in a day or two, but can I just give you a quick picture of steadfastness?  It's from Rome...the Mamertine prison, to be exact.  

Mamertine prison was reportedly the last place both Peter and Paul were imprisoned before their executions in Rome.  

         Mary Norris, Janie, and I would probably all say it was one of the most powerful and enduring memories from our trip. A tiny, dark, damp, and terribly depressing place.  
         Like I said, there will be more on this in a day or two, but for now, let's remember what just two of our brothers in Christ endured...and how they were steadfast under trial and faithful all the way to the very end...  
         ...which was really, gloriously, only their magnificent beginning.  
        I don't know what kinds of trials you might be enduring right now, but might you, might we all, take courage and be strengthened to "Count it all joy!"  Count it all joy, like our brothers, Peter and Paul in Rome, and like our brothers and sisters across the globe today who are suffering and even dying for the name, and to the glory, of Christ.  
       Oh Lord Jesus, You are worthy!  Help us to be steadfast-- 
       Renew our thinking with Your mind,  fill us with Your power, guide us by Your Holy Spirit, strengthen us with Your Word, and encourage us by the gift of fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ.  Make us steadfast, Father, and enable us to count it all, all, all joy.  
       By Your grace.  For Your glory.  
       To God be the glory.