Article March 7, 1994 Issue

Get "tough"

Where do we get the strength to stand—to rise and meet the demands of prayer?

Judith Hardy Olson

"When the going gets tough, the tough get going," so they say. And when the going is tough, we encourage each other not to give up. "Be tough," we say, meaning "Be strong; give it even more. You can do it."

Being "tough" is needed in prayer, too. There's a command given over and over in different ways in the Bible—it's that important. "Be strong." "Be of good courage." "Fear not." "Be not afraid." "Gird up thy loins." "Believe," that is, "Be firm."

No psychological pep talk, no self-hypnosis, will do. The demand is for genuine spiritual stamina, a calm and clear conviction of God's almighty goodness that doesn't waffle or wither when the going gets tough, but awakens and watches. This conviction can't be manufactured, feigned, or borrowed from another. It's gained by holding tightly to what we now know of God, no matter how little that may be, then going even deeper in understanding it and stretching higher in proving it.

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