Can You Persevere?
Let’s start by looking at the word persevere. According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
“persevere”
verb
per·se·vereˌpər-sə-ˈvir
persevered; persevering
: to persist in a state, enterprise, or undertaking in spite of counterinfluences, opposition, or discouragement”
How do you handle obstacles, sin, temptation, challenges, or whatever you call them which may cause you to stop, and think about what you should do in any given situation? If you have given up chocolate for Lent and a co-worker, friend, or family member offers you some chocolate (not knowing you gave it up) what would you do? Would you weakly give into temptation and take the chocolate? Would you politely tell them “No thank you”, just to change your mind when you see their feelings are hurt? Or would you hold steadfast to your conviction of giving up chocolate and abstain from it, no matter what anyone said or did?
As Christians, we are often called to do things we may not necessarily want to do. I’m not just talking about sweets or food. I’m talking about every moment of every day of your life. Can you keep strong through all the trials of life as the book of James chapter 1 suggests?
James 1
New International Version- https://www.biblegateway.com/
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations:
Greetings.
Trials and Temptations
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
9 Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. 10 But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. 11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.
12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
Listening and Doing
19 Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
Footnotes
- James 1:2 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in verses 16 and 19; and in 2:1, 5, 14; 3:10, 12; 4:11; 5:7, 9, 10, 12, 19.
I taught early childhood education for about 10 years before embarking on homeschooling my own children, so my mind is kind of still stuck in a child-like state. So when I would describe sin to them, I would explain it as a spider’s web. Every lie (sin) we say or do, is a part of the web, with every lie or sin, it gets bigger and bigger. Then before you know it you are so caught up in your web it gets too heavy for you and it falls, trapping you in it.
The world likes to tell everyone to give in to their temptations, that it is deserved. However, the Bible clearly states everyone should persevere and stand firm.
Verse 19 & 20 tell us how important it is to listen. “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. ” Have you heard the saying, “Think before you speak?”
According to this, it’s biblical! We are told not to react, but to first listen. With the help of the Holy Spirit, this will allow us to think of what to say, or if we should say anything at all.
It will also help guide our actions, as well.
Jesus tells us in Matthew 5 verse 38, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.
We are called to be peaceful and resist the temptation to react and do evil things. Perseverance will get us our crown in Heaven! It’s easier to react and gratify yourself by hurting someone who has hurt you. But we are called to resist temptation and persevere.
Look what it says in Hebrews 12:1-3 12, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
Jesus persevered through it all, through torcher, temptation, and more! He did it all for you and for me! He was human too and had emotions just as we do, and He was able to overcome, to and persevere to the end! It stood fast and carried out God’s plans, even though they were tough. He never gave up or gave in or ran away. He persevered to save our lives and we need to persevere through whatever comes our way and remain faithful to God and His plan for us.
How many times do you persevere? Think about it and journal it. It may make talking to God easier. Pray about it, always, and never lose hope!