“When the Going Gets Tough, …”

My football coach would often tell us, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” He would especially remind us when we were down some points, when there was a particularly adverse play, or we were in a bad situation. On my high school team we heard that quite often. The military also used the quote (or something like it) often. Campaigns in the military are not known for ease. Combat is always hard, always uncomfortable, often desperate.

 But, being “tough” is good. The “tough” can endure hardships. The “tough” can endure pain. The “tough” can face what looks like certain defeat and still prevail. The quote is a motivator. The “tough” can be in an impossible situation, and then continue to push onward, can continue to “go.” “We are tough. We can do this thing!”

One of the most difficult discoveries in my life was when I realized I could not “do this thing.” Even with the quote running through my head, despite the motivation it could give, there were things I could not overcome, could not defeat, could not do on my own. Regardless of my “toughness,” regardless of my resolve, I could not accomplish what needed to be done. It was humiliating.  It was humbling.  It was a revelation.  It was liberating!

When I realized I could not fix my own sin problem, when I came to grips with the fact that Satan was too strong and cunning for me to overcome, when I realized I could not make myself pleasing to a Holy God, but that God accomplished all of that for me through Jesus Christ, it was then I felt the humiliation, then the humbling, then the revelation, and finally the ultimate liberation. It was no longer me, it was God that “did the thing.”  My toughness could not come even close.  God’s toughness went all the way.

I have been learning to trust Him and His ability, His toughness, in all circumstances in my life.  It is not always easy.  I am working on living with a revised quote, “When the going in life gets tough, the truly tough keep trusting.” Sometimes it is hard to trust. Sometimes the circumstances seem too difficult. And those are the times that trust in our God shows a greater level of toughness. God is always worthy of our trust, even when the path and final victory seem out of reach.

Jesus “learned obedience by the things which He suffered …” (Heb 5:7-9, Heb 12:2). He endured the cross and its attendant humiliation thereby receiving the joy and satisfaction of bringing us back to Him.

Paul asked God to remove a “thorn in the flesh.”  God’s answer was, “No.” God let Paul know that the “thorn” was for Paul’s ultimate benefit. Paul accepted God’s answer because of Paul’s trust in God’s goodness and purpose. Paul then stated he would be pleased in hardships, reproaches, persecutions, distresses for Christ’s sake: because he trusted in God, knowing his (Paul’s) own weaknesses.  Paul learned that God would exercise His power and strength when Paul recognized his own weakness and trusted God’s strength.

“And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And He said unto me, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” (II Cor 12:7-10).

That is the same way we need to understand God’s work in our lives. We need to learn to trust Him in all circumstances. We need to realize that we are strongest when we trust God’s strength for and in us. Regardless of the problem or problems, no matter the strength or power of the obstacle, when life circumstances become insurmountable, those who know God (who continue to trust Him) will have ultimate victory.