A Cup of Grace – with a shot of espresso

On top of being a family physician in our town, for fourteen years my husband also coached the girls high school basketball team. When he took the team, they hadn’t won a game in five years, and morale, not to mention interest in playing, was at an all time low. 

I would love to say that the program was a Cinderella story of complete turn around, but that wouldn’t be quite the truth. His first year, they won exactly one game. You would have thought they had won the NCAA tournament with all the excitement that created. As a result more girls began to come out for the team. There was a gleam of hope. 

One year my husband chose the word “tenacity” as the team motto. The team would stand in a circle in the locker room before a game. Each would have a hand in the middle and on the count of three would holler, “Tenacity!”

Being tenacious is a great goal for any team. There was only one problem. As I sat with the varsity team in the bleachers one game, watching the JV play, I overheard them talking. One of the girls spoke up, “Coach keeps telling us to have tenacity.” She looked at the others as they nodded. “But I don’t even know what that means.” At this point several doubled over laughing. “We don’t either,” they spluttered. They each had been too embarrassed to ask.

The dictionary defines tenacity as “the quality of holding fast; persistence.” But for most of us an image works better for us. I think of a pitbull that’s got ahold of something and just won’t let go. His jaws are locked, and his eyes say that it’s a battle to the death. 

We had one girl on the team for four years who, whether she knew the definition of tenacity or not, exhibited it on the court. Mandy wasn’t a high scorer or even the most adept dribbler. But heaven help the opponent whom my husband told her to guard. Mandy never quit moving. No matter how hard the other girl tried, she just couldn’t shake Mandy. It was if invisible strings connected her to that player. She frustrated and angered multiple opponents over those four years. She was the living example of a tenacious player. She just didn’t quit.

That’s the way I want to chase obedience to Jesus. I may not be the most talented servant He has. I have several weaknesses. But I want to persistently walk in obedience. Sometimes that’s relatively easy. I enjoy writing. I like mentoring others. 

But there are other times where I am tempted to be far more lackadaisical in my approach. After all, if I was being completely honest, I don’t really want to do whatever it is anyway. I’ve shared with you my tendency to put off what I find uncomfortable.

Once in awhile, there are the times I “give it a go.” I’ll “guard my man.” I’ll follow through, but then I walk off the court like I’ve done my job. Only, that’s like Mandy keeping up with her opponent for a play or two. The game is still in play, and I’m headed to the cooler for a drink like the game is over. (I have to wonder how frustrated my Coach must be.)

“I’m tired.” I gasp and hold my knees. I did it once. What do you mean I haven’t finished? So I pull out my list of other reasonable excuses. I share these with the Coach and anyone else who might be listening. I do this quickly so I can’t be interrupted.

I don’t really look the Coach in the eye at this point because I’ve gotten distracted by what other “players” are doing or not doing. I might even point it out to the Coach because, you know, He’s busy, and He might not have noticed. Maybe He just really needs me as assistant coach.

Finally, I check the “bench” to see if there’s someone better suited for this task than me. That sounds noble, but the truth is that I’m looking for a way to pass off this position. Thankfully, the Coach is patient with me. And He’s tough. He’s not letting me off the hook. Instead, He explains again what my job is. I am replaceable, but He chooses to continue to work with me.

Can you identify? Is there a task that God has called you to that you’re not thrilled about? Or, you’re just not sure you can do it well. Perhaps you’re running into some external resistance. Or maybe, you’re just tired. 

These are precisely the times that tenacity becomes important. When things are pleasant and easy, we don’t need it. It’s when our “don’t want to” kicks in or we meet resistance from the outside that doing it anyway becomes more important.

A Biblical example of tenacity can be found in the OT. Nehemiah has a heart for God and his people. He gets permission to temporarily leave a fairly cushy existence at the Persian palace. He travels to Jerusalem to restore the walls that are mostly rubble. Jerusalem had been sacked by Babylon seventy years earlier. 

Initially, it looks like an insurmountable task. Their enemies mock them. “A fox could knock over that wall you’re trying to restore.” Different groups are assigned to work on different places of the wall. As the wall’s gaps begin to close, their enemies realize that taunts aren’t enough and begin to plot attacks to stop them.

At one point while working on the wall, one person watches and is armed against enemy attack while the other builds. Even the one building carries a sword. But still they keep working, each where they have been assigned. They finish just over 2 miles of a wall that is 9 feet wide in 52 days. That is tenacity. 

As the Church, God has assigned us tasks; we each have a portion of a “wall” we are responsible for. Or, thinking back to my first analogy, we have a role to play in the game. When we fail, we affect our teammates – the other wall builders.

Let this be your locker room pep talk. I am not the coach or even His assistant. I’m just another member of the team. I do not know what your assignment is. But I want to encourage you to have tenacity. Don’t let how you feel or what you think is possible get in the way of what God wants to do through you. 

Life is a long game, and the Coach has given us the privilege of court time. Each play matters. Encourage one another. Challenge one another. Above all, trust the Coach. 

This pep talk is as much for me as it is for you. I have slacked off in a couple of areas. I have failed to follow through, and it has affected others. I have wanted to judge other people’s performance rather than answer for mine. This is my reminder to be like Mandy – to guard the opponent in front of me with frustrating persistence. 

Are you with me? Wipe the sweat off your brow. Listen again to the Coach’s instructions. Make the commintment to Him to give it your best. Now, put your hand in the circle. Everybody on three. 1 – 2 – 3 – 

“TENACITY!”

If you found this post enjoyable or thought provoking in any way, please feel free to share it with someone else. My desire is to encourage and challenge others in their own relationships with God.