Webster defines perseverance as “steady persistance in a course of action or purpose.” The New Testament writers affirm it, encourage it and view it as desirable.
The Apostle Paul boasted of the perseverance of the Thessalonians. He held up the perseverance of Christ as a model. He said that the signs and wonders done by the apostles were done with great perseverance. He told the Romans that suffering produces perseverance. Peter wrote that we are to add perseverance to our faith. James said that the testing of our faith develops perseverance and that the finished work of perseverance is maturity.
James and the author to the Hebrews said that we need to persevere in order to receive what God has promise and we are urged to “run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”
There is something difficult implied in the word – it suggests effort, determination, resolve. It reminds me of the athlete who must push through pain and fatigue to run the race or play the game. It is not a welcoming concept.
My nephew was urging/encouraging his daughter in some task that she did not want to do. He told her that sometimes we must simply persevere. Her response, “I only like to persevere every other day.” I laughed out loud when my sister told me the story.
However, I wonder if her comment is a reflection of many of us. I can persevere today but I’m not sure about tomorrow. Perhaps that’s O.K. When tomorrow comes, I can choose to persevere through it as well. I’m not sure skipping a day really counts as perseverance. But I can persevere for the next hour and then the next or today and then tomorrow. I may only “like” to persevere every other day but I must persevere today. Tomorrow, I’ll start anew.
