In the 1920s, Clarence Keith wanted to leave the United States and serve as a missionary in South Africa. In those days, you had to mail in paperwork, get visas approved, and hope everything turned out alright when you arrived at the boat (not the plane!) to cross the ocean.
Clarence arrived in New York a couple of days before his departure, but the visa was not ready. The trip was cancelled. He returned to his home in southern Indiana to contemplate his next steps.
Roberta McMillan had attended God’s School of the Bible at the same time as Clarence. She also applied to be a missionary. She was refused because the organization did not want to send her as a single woman.
She also returned home to contemplate her next steps.
When you want to do something big in the world, setbacks and opposition are inevitable. What will you do when you hit a wall?
To keep going forward, you need resolute endurance. That’s the fourth cardinal virtue. It is sometimes called fortitude or courage. It is the ability to keep going and continue doing good when things get hard.
How the Bible Describes This
Resolute endurance is a common theme in the Bible. In living the Christian life and seeking to do good works, you will face opposition. You need the strength of endurance to keep going.
Jesus is the model here. He set before Himself a great goal: the redemption of the world. That mission meant opposition and the cross (Heb. 12:1–3). We are to consider His example and prepare ourselves to follow it.
One word the Bible uses for this virtue is patience. People develop at different rates, process things differently, and sometimes oppose us. The Apostle Paul encouraged the Thessalonians to recognize these differences and respond wisely. He said, “warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak . . .” (1 Thess. 5:14). But then he added a universal command: “be patient with all.”
Getting people to work together takes patience. That is the fourth virtue applied to ordinary relationships.
Another biblical word for this virtue is perseverance. It refers to our ability to keep doing good in the face of opposition.
Jesus said, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you” (Luke 6:27).
Some people hear this as a reaction: wait until someone harms you, then try to do them good. But I think Jesus intends something deeper: do as much good as you can, and don’t let the evil actions of others deter you from continuing to do good—even toward those who wrong you.
Paul captured this beautifully: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Rom. 12:21).
That is the principle. Keep doing good no matter what.
Why? To let evil triumph? No. Ultimately, to overcome it with good.
This is where hope comes in. Hope is the oxygen of resolute endurance.
The Need for Hope
Consider Jesus again. What kept Him going?
A vision of the good: “For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:2).
We do not endure suffering for suffering’s sake. We endure suffering for the sake of the good.
How can we have hope? Let’s consider the hope we have for ourselves and the hope we can have for the good we seek to do in the world.
First, what hope do we have for ourselves when we face hardship? That God will turn it for our good.
The Apostle Paul explains this promise: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him” (Romans 8:28).
Some people hear this and think: God will bring good out of this, but we do not know what that good is. While it is true we cannot see everything God is doing, Paul actually tells us what that good is: “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son . . .” (Rom. 8:29).
The good that God is working in His people is transformation—making them more like Jesus.
This purpose gives us hope when life is hard. In fact, it allows us to rejoice even in suffering.
Earlier in Romans, Paul wrote: “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Rom. 5:3–4).
This is something people already know from experience: going through hard things can make you stronger. You grow. You learn.
That is Paul’s point. The greatest heroes pass through the greatest trials. Great threats often produce great victories.
But in this case, victory is not uncertain. In Christ, it is assured. That is why there is real hope.
What about the good we seek to do in the world? Can we hope that our efforts will matter?
Yes.
Paul explains the principle this way: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Gal. 6:9).
This promise does not refer only to individual growth. It refers to the good we do for others.
Paul continues: “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” (Gal. 6:10).
Doing good is not only good in itself. It also produces results. It makes an impact.
This is the vision we must keep before us when we encounter setbacks. Continuing to pursue the good will be good for us, good for others, and bring glory to God.
The Resolute Endurance of Clarence & Roberta
Clarence Keith and Roberta McMillan shared their experiences with each other through letters. Over time, they came to a conclusion.
They should go to the mission field—and they should go together as husband and wife.
About a year after their initial setback, they set off by boat for what was then Swaziland. They made the difficult journey to this landlocked nation and began a mission.
They carried sweet potatoes and biltong (a form of beef jerky) into the bush on long treks and shared the Gospel.
They raised children—eight of them, in fact. They milked cows and later had their children help milk them to provide milk for the family. They raised their own food. They ordered clothing patterns from the Sears catalogue and made clothes for their children.
Decades later, God called them to another mission in what was then Southern Rhodesia. God provided funds for a medical mission that is still operating today in what is now Zambia.
What if they had given up?
None of that good would have been done.
They could have enjoyed a comfortable life in America, no doubt. But the greater good would have remained undone.
I also would not be here, because they are my great-grandparents.
In 2014, I preached a sermon on legacy to more than 100 descendants and spouses of Clarence and Roberta.
That moment has remained a constant reminder: do not give up—even when life is hard, even when obstacles appear.
It is a living testimony to God’s promise: we shall reap, if we faint not.
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