A proven character is reflected in both the ups and the downs.
I have lived in line with this – that consistency in what I do, reflects who I am.
Before I was dating my husband, I remember he turned up flustered to one of our catch ups. He was running 40 minutes late. He apologised to keep me waiting, but I responded, “Rhys, I know your heart. It is not in your character to purposefully show up late. Don’t worry, it ended up being perfect timing!” And I think that is it – in having a proven character, your characteristics become a part of the person you are to those around you. A bible verse that comes to mind of character is Romans 5:3-5.
3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Your consistency of character reveals your heart. And inconveniences, deep trials, mounting pressure do not crush it, but build it. Without the need for endurance, character would never be built.
Without the trial, the heart starts retreating to a point of shallowness. The greek word of character is dokime – it has been translated to mean: A proven character; a proof of genuineness, a brand of what is “tested and true.”
When I show up to training each day, there are times when the sessions don’t move my heart, they have no excitement or immediate reward. Yet they are the ones I learn the most about what’s inside of me. It pulls out the question, “Why am I doing this again?” Because when I feel like training is going backwards, an injury appears or the pouring rain awaits outside my door before my session,
I see it as building the lovely, consistent character of who God has called me to be. Sometimes in tears when I find I am at the end of my own source of passion, but yet I persevere, I find a renewed strength.
Sometimes when everything is going just perfect, I pull on the strength that I felt weighed down, to provide me the right heart to steward the high moments well.
Consistency; in the monotonous four walls of my physio rehabilitation clinic, and on the top of the world podium. Consistency; doing front planks on the airport floor and flying high over bars. Consistency – building the character to be the person I was born to be, with every moment as a new opportunity to establish it.
