It’s Arduous and I Like It.

Arduous.

It’s my new word.

It’s fun to say.  Go ahead, try it.

ar·du·ous/ˈärjo͞oəs/

Simultaneously tough and intelligent sounding. 

I want arduous.  

That’s why I like hiking and camping and running.  Activities where you wonder, “Why in the world am I choosing to subject myself to this kind of pain?” at least once, maybe more.

But I know there is a reward.  

After clambering up bolders you get to see this...

...you then realize it was totally worth it.  [You also feel a little BA, which helps.]

And yet, I don’t want arduous.

The kind of arduous I’m okay with is strenuous physically.  Let’s be honest, my office-chair-butt needs it. 

It’s in the intangible tough that I’m content with a little jiggle. Wrangling my pride, taming my tongue or taking captive every thought leave my lungs heaving much harder than running hills.

But I know there is a reward.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. [james 1:2-4]

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. [james 1:12]

For God is not so unjust as to overlook your work and the love that you showed for his sake in serving the saints as you still do.  And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. [hebrews 6:10-11]

[And there are A LOT of promises.  I’d love to inherit a few.]  

I want to press on.  Persevere.  Rejoice in the burn.  Toil and strive.  And like it.  

For while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.   

The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance.   

For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.  [1 timothy 4:8-10]

Now I’m at the end of this post feeling a little sheepish. 

After all that, I’m not totally sure I know how to get there.  Or do I?

Nine times out of ten physically pushing through something is actually a mental game.  In the fight to die to self and claim grace, it might just be mental too.  Choosing to set our hope.

set

   [set]  Show IPA verb, set, set·ting, noun,adjective, interjection

verb (used with object)

1.

to put (something or someone) in a particular place: to set a vase on a table.

2.

to place in a particular position or posture: Set the baby on his feet.

3.

to place in some relation to something or someone: We set a supervisor over the new workers.

4.

to put into some condition: to set a house on fire.

5.

to put or apply: to set fire to a house.

Place it. 

Posture it. 

Appoint it. 

Start it. 

Apply our hope not on less junk-in-our-trunk or a killer view at the peak, but to set our hope on the living God.  

Man, that packs a little more punch eh?  

The LIVING. GOD.  

It doesn’t make the arduous less arduous.  

But with a hope like that, the adrenaline starts pumping a little harder.

And the consistent, conscious choice to set, it might just get me over that next mountain.