Cliché sayings for a “not so cliché” time…“Hang In There"

by Kendra Rueckert

Unemployed. That’s the word that I have had to come to grips with over the past few months. It was supposed to be “temporary”, a quick “transition”, a “bump in the road”, however, now it has shifted to something more permanent. Throughout this journey I’ve heard just about everything from “hang in there” to “everything happens for a reason”. My first gut reaction is to brush off the efforts of comfort from friends and family and revel in my own frustration, but I think maybe their words deserve further exploration.

The tried and true, “hang in there” statement for example…my initial comeback: Sure, I’ll just hang around and be fine and dandy, golly gee gumdrops! (of course in an obvious sarcastic tone)Thankfully, I’ll admit the comeback dwells in my head, but regardless, the thought is still there. Maybe instead I can take time to step back and accept this gesture of comfort. After all, what could it really mean?

According to the slang definition, “hang in” translates, to persevere. And perseverance is defined as a steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., esp. in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement. Sounds about right, huh? In other words, in order to persevere you must have difficulties, obstacles and discouragement to deal with. In the words of the unemployed I think that’s an easy “yes” to all of the above.

It’s easy to count my “negative blessings” but they pale in comparison to another who dealt with blindness, jail time, and being shipwrecked. Paul not only experienced these things, but also gave us words to ponder in these times, “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (Romans 5:3-4, New International Version)

You must understand I’m not suggesting that since Paul had it worse we should just “suck it up”, but rather it’s a matter of perspective. Suffering is not easy; Paul never alludes to that fact. But what do you do when you suffer? Do you aim to seek a “steady persistence in a course of action”? Do you persevere? I’ll be happy to pat you on the back if you say, “Absolutely!” But for the sinners and imperfect human race the reality is different. The reality is hard.

Jesus is in the reality. It was reality when He was arrested for a crime He did not commit. It was reality when he was spit upon, beaten, and whipped. It was reality when He felt each nail hit nerves deep in his body as they hammered him to a cross. His death was reality…but so was His resurrection! He died and lived so that WE can live with him eternally. And eternity begins NOW!

So the question as you deal with your “unemployed” sufferings might not be “why me?” but rather “What can God do with me NOW?” or “What is God showing me in my life NOW?” Understanding that being in the here and now is part of persevering, which thankfully the Spirit enables us to do so.

If you note, in the verse I cited earlier, perseverance is just the first step. From that comes character and then character, hope. Verse 5 completes the circle, “And hope does not disappoint us because God has poured out his love in our hearts by the Holy Spirit whom he has given us.” Poured out in love…you have a Savior that loves you, will care for you, and will help you persevere through the seemingly endless pit of “harsh reality.”

Flying on a dreary day after having days or weeks of dismal weather, gives a deeper illustration to my point. First, you take off and start climbing through the dreary, gray clouds and ponder how it will be nice to take a nap. Then you break through the clouds to your “peak altitude”. As you fly through the clouds, the sun makes its appearance. It’s bright. It’s warm. Seemingly then in that moment you are refreshed, renewed.

Unemployment is a cloud, a dark and dreary one. But the words “hang in there” are words to encourage you so that you can see some sun peak through. They are words of comfort in a not so comfortable time. So my prayer for all of you unemployed or those who know an unemployed friend is to “hang in there” with love, perseverance, character and hope all rooted in reality.