~ written by Connie Dunmyer
Every so often, I come across an old, original word, either Greek or Hebrew, that perks my attention and causes me to either re-think or ponder deeper the meaning of that word, and how it applies to me.
Luke 8:15
[NIV] But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.
[ESV] As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.
[KJV] But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
The Greek word for persevering / patience in this verse is huponmoné – pronounced hoo-pa-mo-nay. This word means: cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy, a remaining behind, a patient enduring (waiting).
I’m not sure what this does for anyone else, but it makes me think that perhaps “simple endurance” is never the goal. The purpose of much of my waiting and endurance has more to do with my attitude, rather than my actions. Which kind of makes sense when I think about it. I mean, if I am having to wait, or endure a difficult time, I really don’t hold any of the cards. I have no control. There is nothing I can do or not do to speed up or stop the waiting. It’s all in God’s hands.
"Trusting God in the midst of our pain and heartache means that we ACCEPT IT FROM HIM. There is a vast difference between acceptance and either resignation or submission. We can RESIGN ourselves to a difficult situation, simply because we see no other alternative. Many people do that all the time. Or we can submit to the sovereignty of God in our circumstances with a certain amount of RELUCTANCE. But to truly ACCEPT our pain and heartache has the connotation of WILLINGNESS. An attitude of acceptance says that we trust God, that He loves us and knows what is best for us." ~ Trusting God, by Jerry Bridges
The thought that my part of this – that my endurance could be, maybe even should be, cheerful or hopeful… well that’s just like a big ol’ flashing sign from Jesus letting me know that I need an attitude adjustment. I can look at this time of waiting with a cheerful hope.
Hebrews 11:1
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”
Jesus would not call me to this if it weren’t possible – let alone necessary. And perhaps the whole point is that if I have hope – if I am patiently enduring – I will show myself strong in the Lord by my cheerfulness.
I’ll be honest – most days I don’t FEEL this way. I often wonder what there is to even be hopeful about.
“Producing a crop requires perseverance. It requires a cheerful and consistent trust in what the Lord is doing. A tree doesn’t bear fruit overnight. It takes time, care, love, and attention.” ~ Olivia Swindler
So even if I don’t see progress (from my perspective) – I can be confident that from heaven’s perspective, growth, progress, solutions are indeed taking place. And yet again, just like I’ve mentioned in so many of my recent blogs, I am reminded of this verse:
2 Corinthians 4:18
“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
I know that my physical eyes cannot see what God sees. But my spiritual faith-eyes can focus on what I cannot see as logical. And because I know that God sees what I cannot see - there is a hope, a trust, a cheerfulness in that knowledge.
As long as I put my focus on the Word of God and the leading of His Spirit – I can be sure He will remove all the layers of my own negativity, layers from what I’ve heard or even been taught – things that make sense and things that don’t. He will remove – scrape off – whatever is not of Him. I can produce what HE desires for my life simply because of my huponmoné... my willingness to stay cheerful in the Lord, to be hopeful in His future for me, and to be patient in His timing.
My Prayer:
Open my eyes to see and my ears to hear You clearly and correctly. I trust You, Jesus. I believe that You can do anything. I believe You have only the best for me. I have prayed. I have asked. I have cried. I have left it at Your feet. And yes, sometimes I pick it back up. Today I confidently, and in cheerful hope hand it back to You, believing You will provide. But EVEN IF You don’t answer the way I want, for the things I am praying – I trust You. I trust Your ways. I trust Your answers. I trust that even in “death”… death of my way, death of my solutions, death of my will… You ARE Resurrection. You don’t simply bring resurrection – You ARE Resurrection. You ARE Life! Bring me to life in this very dry desert of death. I cheerfully look on with bated breath, awaiting Your will, Your answer, Your life to be shown and given.
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