It Starts Small

Perseverance and endurance. What are they?

Perseverance is persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.

Endurance is the fact or power of enduring an unpleasant or difficult process or situation without giving way.

Endurance is experiencing or surviving the pain. Perseverance, however, is not merely experiencing pain or hardships in life but also going against these hardships in order to strive for excellence. In this sense, endurance is similar to a still movement of the individual, but perseverance is full of action.

Endurance is tolerating. For example, a group of people are persecuted and they accept it and just tolerate it. Perseverance refers to continuing in spite of difficulty and lack of success. This gives the idea that although a person encounters failure in life; he does not give up, but tries hard to achieve his goals. Perseverance is a quality that can be extremely valuable to all of us if we cultivate it. It trains the individual not only to endure but also to continue their journey without giving up. The key difference between endurance and perseverance is that while endurance suggests mere tolerance of hardships in life, perseverance suggests going against these very hardships to succeed.

In our discipleship journey these two key attributes are needed to keep going. What does God’s Word say about perseverance?

Perseverance

¹² Blessed is the one who endures trials, because when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12

Our discipleship is a journey that will NOT be absent of temptations, trials and tribulations. They can come as persecution from evil or trials from our Heavenly Father to fine tune our hearts. We are told by God’s Word to use these moments or seasons as  encouragement to persevere through the hardships of this world.

Perseverance helps build our faith by experiencing God first hand. When we go through trials, troubles, or temptations, we experience first hand the power and provision of God. This reinforces our trust in Him. Perseverance deepens our relationship with Him, as we trust Him more, he gives us more of Himself.

Some people fail at persevering because it requires dedication, determination, consistency, focus, and lots of patience.

⁵⁸ Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1
Corinthians 15:58

Paul wrote to the Corinthians and that we need to be steadfast and immovable. As life happens, we need to not step off the path. Do not let these things stop you and do not let these things remove your solid rock foundation.

⁹ Let us not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up. Galatians 6:9

Paul also said do not grow tire or in some versions weary. Being weary is feeling or showing tiredness, especially as a result of excessive exertion or lack of sleep. We need to make sure we are taking care of ourselves physically, mentally, and spiritually. That our eyes remain on the purpose and goal, Jesus, and not on the circumstances. We can not have persistence with mental health issues. Our mental health issues are directly related to our spiritual heart. If we have doubt, unconfessed sin, unbelief, worry, or pride in our hearts, we will not persevere on our journey and will quickly fall away. We have to make sure we do a check up on our priorities and commitments.

Nehemiah was a great example of perseverance. He was completely committed to doing God’s work. He was instrumental to rebuilding the walls around Jerusalem. His team was met with fierce opposition, but they finished the walls in 52 days!

David was the anointed King of Israel, but it would be decades before he ever sat on the throne. He was constantly hunted by Saul to be killed. He could have easily given up but he persevered.

¹⁰ Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. Look, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will experience affliction for ten days. Be faithful to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. Revelation 2:10

The church at Smyrna was told they were going to experience affliction, but were told by Jesus to persevere to the point of death.

The disciples of Christ are another great example. They exhibited perseverance when they possessed genuine faith. To the end of their lives they were steadfast and did not grow weary. They are our testimony and witness when our own faith is weak. Our own perseverance is not only important for us, but for others around us.

I can testify that perseverance is not easy! It involves a genuine commitment and patience no matter how difficult our circumstances or God’s assignment for our season. It is a mind set and to set our motivation and focus on Jesus to accomplish whatever it is that God has called us to do.

Friends, I encourage you to not lose heart and give up. Continue to be steadfast and determined to finish the work God has given you. As we read in Revelations 2:10, the crown of life is waiting for us at the end.