by Bob Dees

His room at Flossenburg was simple—nothing on the plaster walls—just a wooden door with a big lock, a few feet from where he was executed, a few weeks before Allies liberated the Flossenburg Nazi German concentration camp. I was humble and contrite as I looked at the garden wall where they killed German Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer. He was such a heroic figure, such a fighter for the faith, a warrior against the apostasy of the German Church which turned a blind eye to Adolf Hitler’s Jewish Holocaust and Nazi Germany’s brutal domination of other nations.

From the accounts of his own writings and those of fellow prisoners, Dietrich Bonhoeffer did not grow slack in his day of distress (Proverbs 24:10 – “If you are slack in the day of distress, your strength is limited.”). In short, he remained strong and faithful to God and others until the SS executioners ended his life. I find this both inspiring and convicting. If Dietrich Bonhoeffer did not grow slack under the stress of a Nazi concentration camp, should we not likewise lean into every day that God gives us breath and purpose, moving forward with the strength that only He can provide?

The Warrior David penitently prayed in Psalm 51, including “sustain me with a willing spirit.” Isn’t this what we all need EVERY DAY – a willing spirit to lean into God’s presence, to love Him and serve others, to “seek first His Kingdom and His Righteousness” (Matthew 6:33)? If you are like me, this can sometimes be a struggle. 

Yet, an unwavering commitment and MINDSET to “seek first” on a daily basis lies at the heart of a “willing spirit” and ever growing Resilience – God Style. For me, that starts with reading God’s Word and talking to Him in prayer. I suspect the same is true for you. 

Jesus clearly did not grow slack in His day of suffering on the cross. In Hebrews 2:9, it says of Jesus, 

“But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.” 

Jesus did not flinch when carrying His cross to Golgotha, He did not flinch when placed to die between two thieves, He did not flinch when He said “Father Forgive them, for they know not what they do.” As it says above, He tasted death for each of us — He finished strong. Following his Savior’s lead, Bonhoeffer also modeled finishing strong by staying faithful to the end for millions of believers, including you and me. 

Our specific challenge to finish strong is contained in Hebrews 12:1-3:

“1Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart…”

I once heard an unattributed story about an Allied soldier in a Nazi concentration camp close to the end for Nazi Germany. Rumors were rampant that the Nazis would kill all the prisoners before fleeing, perhaps even the next morning. This prisoner and his comrades prepared for the worst, made their peace with God, and waited for the fateful knock at their cell doors. The knock came, the prisoner braced for death. The door was flung open, and the simple command “Yank, come with me, you are now free.” Allied liberators had arrived first. What a life giving surprise, what deliverance!

Each of us must face our “days of trouble,” and ultimately our day of death. We do not know when that will be. If we are to finish strong, we ‘must not be slack in our day of distress, because our strength will be limited.’ (Prov 24:10, paraphrased) The example from Jesus, Bonhoeffer, this unnamed Allied POW, and many other faithful believers is to lean into God whatever the expected outcome, to be faithful to our call wherever it leads, to finish strong despite the cost. 

What do YOU think?

Is finishing strong important to you?

What examples would you provide of someone being faithful to the end?

How will you avoid growing slack in your day of distress?

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