The Greeks had a word for it: ‘hupomone.’ They spoke of ‘hupomone’ when they wanted to describe that approach to life that can be summed up best perhaps as ‘patient endurance’. It’s really important to appreciate though, that that when they spoke of ‘hupomone’ they weren’t referring to the kind of passive acceptance that simply bows to the inevitable. ‘Hupomone’ implied courage and hope, the sort of hope that says: “We might lose a battle but we will never lose the war.”

I was reminded of ‘hupomone’ a few days ago when I came across a newspaper article that suggested that some of the police officers who smeared the victims of the Hillsborough disaster could face criminal charges even though the tragedy in question occurred nearly thirty years ago. The families of the dead never gave up trying to clear their loved ones’ names, and as we all know their patience was finally rewarded last year.

Psychiatrist Richard D’Ambrosio displayed this same spirit too. D’Ambrosio was asked to help a girl who had withdrawn into her own private world because of the way she had been treated as a young child. D’Ambrosio knew it would be no easy task but was determined to get through to ‘the real Laura’ no matter how long it took. And so he bought a construction kit to build a doll’s house. Twice a week, whenever Laura came into his office, he gently but steadily constructed it in front of her. Two years later, having met no obvious response, he went out and bought kits to build the furniture and the people who would to live in it. Indeed, D’Ambrosio carried on patiently until finally Laura stretched out a hand and moved a chair. The full healing process took another four years but at last, to everyone’s delight Laura was finally discharged from his care, a perfectly normal, happy girl.

As I read Laura’s story, I couldn’t help thinking: “Please God help me to be as patient as that, and give me the confidence to believe that there are times when it is worth ‘hanging on in there’ when I know I’m doing the right thing.”

Life can be very tough at times. Challenges can come thick and fast. But we don’t have to give in. We can face them head on knowing that God can give us the strength to do so. All of which makes me wonder if this is why Barak Obama’s first Chief of Staff Robin Emmanuel was able to say that we should never let a serious crisis go to waste because it could, given the right attitude, provide reasons and opportunities for hope. And who could disagree with him given God’s clear promise that He is always ready to help us when we’re up to our necks in trouble?

Rob James is a Baptist Pastor broadcaster and writer who currently operates as a church and media consultant for the Evangelical Alliance Wales. He is available for preaching and teaching throughout Wales and can be contacted at [email protected]