Staying the Course
“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope.
To Timothy my true son in the faith. Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.”
1 Timothy 1:1-2, NIV
In Paul’s first letter to Timothy, we see from his opening words the special relationship he had with his protégé. Having been raised in the faith, Timothy was not shy when it came to the Gospel message. Paul, who saw his gifts, immediately took him under his wing. Timothy was an eager student and a quick learner. Before long, he was entrusted with leading a fledgling congregation. Sound doctrine, public worship, church leadership and personal discipline were the goals Paul outlined in the letter. Though daunting, the task of leadership was not impossible. Paul was confident in God’s timing and in His presence with this young man. It was only a matter of time before Timothy would find his footing and the ministry would soar.
One of the hardest things to do in life is to stay the course. Waiting is one of the greatest themes throughout Scripture. It is also the most challenging. It is hard in the moment to understand the purpose of waiting. We question and wonder why we can’t have what we want when we want it. Due to our impatience, we lose sight of its value. Many of us tend to jump the gun and we fail to ultimately see the fruits of God’s desire. We don’t realize and we quickly forget that God can use this season of waiting as a time of deep connection and formation.
Paul knew this and wanted to assure Timothy of what he was called to do. He knew what it was like to stay the course. Even more so, he knew what it was like to wait and be alone. Often, at times like this, we tend to doubt, question and are tempted to go astray. Confronted with the challenges of leadership, Paul’s intention was to encourage Timothy. He wanted to provide valuable instruction and empower him to be the leader he was called to be.
Many of us find ourselves in a similar place. We see staying the course and waiting as a burden rather than a gift. Our inclination is to act. This action is motivated more out of fear than out of faith. Rather than be vulnerable we avoid seeking counsel and true fellowship. We isolate and go through it alone. The price of such decisions ends up being costly as we risk losing our connection with God and with those who matter most.
Paul’s message is one of hope. He speaks from what he knew. The last thing he wants is for Timothy to lose his connections. As he reaches out to Timothy, so too, he is reaching out to us and his advice is clear. Stay the course, do not be distracted, trust, and know you are not alone.
“Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge which some have professed and in so doing have wandered from the faith. Grace be with you.”
1Timothy 6:20, NIV
