Perseverance

Perseverance

Perseverance means various things to different people at different stages of their lives. Let's rethink some of the situations we encountered where we demonstrated tenacious determination before we discuss biblical characters that displayed exceptional perseverance.

What does the term “overcoming personal battles through perseverance” bring to mind? Perhaps you've been lucky and haven’t had to endure a lot of life’s common trials and tribulations. If so, “persevering or perseverance” might not resonate much with you? If that was true in your case, wouldn't you be a rare individual? One remarkably blessed by God.

Most of us, from time to time, have had to overcome extensive strife and troubles. In that case, reflections of your past perseverance should have significant, positive meanings to you—in spite of the hardships.

So, let's identify and discuss the types of afflictions or events common to many people that they had to work through.

Certainly, any pregnant woman has had to endure all sorts of discomfort and difficulties in the last trimester, or maybe even in the last two trimesters. I can't begin to imagine the pain of childbirth. Then there are those that had to face many types of abuse at home while growing up. Maybe one spouse or the other had struggles with alcohol? One parent might have been too hard to please or always responding with browbeatings and undeserved criticisms.

Sometimes, as early as the first week of kindergarten, there were traumatic events, even though they were interspersed with naps, milk, and cookies. Was middle school and high school a breeze or were you not accepted by the “cool” crowd or even experienced downright taunting or personal, physical bullying? Even the freedom of going off to college produced its own stressful elements, like financial concerns, being stuck in a dorm with strangers, or the necessity of acquiring and holding a part-time job.

And, 'Oh my gosh,' what about the anxieties associated with dating? Do I look good in this or that? Can I trust this guy? After all, I barely know him? Will she say “no” to my face if I ask her out? Worse, will she tell all her friends and they all could laugh at me? Do I have enough cash in my jeans to go out on a really fun date?

For those who immediately left high school and attempted to enter the workforce, were there apprehensions about job interviews and the strain of having people judge you whether they really knew you or not? Far worse than that would be situations of no job, no money, no home.

Even after that “special person” came along, then there could be troubling thoughts about what your parents might think of you as a couple. Or did you worry, “are we rushing into this marriage or would a longer engagement be better?” Did you experience a terrifying moment like—“Oh no! We can't wait, I'm pregnant! Or she's pregnant!"

Did you ever buckle under and harm yourself by taking illegal drugs or abusing alcohol? Some fight forever to escape the clutches of this life's destroying substances. But those who do not persevere—pay a high cost.

No matter which of the above might have interfered with your life, the mere fact that you are reading this now proves you have held on and worked your way out of those desperate conditions. Regardless of life’s circumstances, we must all learn how to persevere in our faith of our Lord and help those who are suffering in similar circumstances or symptoms.

The Bible isn’t silent on this topic either. There are numerous scriptures on perseverance to guide us over our own personal potholes. Kings and common people described in the Holy Bible had similar or worse circumstances to conquer or at least control. Which Biblical personality do you believe exemplifies “perseverance” best?

Often the first “common character” that comes to mind is Job. His enduring tale is an example of extreme distress and sorrow. Yet through it all, Job stayed faithful and true to God.

I know you've read Job's story, most likely more than once, but let's review the highlights.

Job was a blameless, upright and faithful servant of God. Satan wanted to prove to God Almighty that he could break Job's will. So he asked permission to torture Job. God allowed it with only a few restrictions; the devil could not take Job’s life, nor was he not allowed to touch Job’s person in any way. However, everything else that belonged to Job, God placed in Satan’s hand to do as he desired.

In the course of a day, Job was told by various servants that all his possessions were taken by thieves. Worse than that, all his livestock had been stolen or killed. That was no small thing for his livestock was recorded as: 7,000 sheep, a thousand for each of his sons, three thousand camels–also one thousand for each of his daughters, five hundred she-asses for his wife, and five hundred yoke of oxen for himself. Note: She-asses were preferred over he-asses as each served the same uses of carrying burdens, riding, and performing other types of labor, but the female donkeys gave milk and, of course, gave birth to little donkey foals.