What is perseverance? Perseverance: “Persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.” (Oxford Dictionaries) Perseverance is “sticking with it” — “plowing ahead” — “pressing on.”
The New Testament talks a lot about perseverance (1 Tim 6:11, 2 Peter 1:5-8, Matt 24:13). Why is perseverance important? I’ll let Hebrews 12:1,2 speak for itself…
Hebrews 12:1,2 — “…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 Yahshua, 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 Elohim.”
Perseverance is important because we have a race set before us that we must win. What are some ways to put perseverance into action? What are some keys that can help us to persevere? Hear are a few thoughts:
1) Rejoice in trial. Romans 5:3,4 says, “…we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope.” Every trial is an opportunity to display perseverance and to proclaim our trust in Yahweh. James 1:2,3 says, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.” That’s something to rejoice about!
2) Press on in doing good. Galatians 6:9 says, “Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.” 1 Corinthians 15:58 says, “…my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.” Perseverance is more than “hunkering down and resisting evil” — it’s stepping out and moving forward.
3) When you fall, get back on your feet. Perseverance doesn’t mean we’ll never fall down, but it does mean we’ll get back up. If the devil can’t get us to turn to the right or to the left, he’ll try to get us to look back at past mistakes. Proverbs 24:16 says “a righteous man falls seven times and rises again.” We will mess up, we will make mistakes, but we must keep moving by Yah’s grace.
4) Remember that strength is not about feelings. When we feel weak, it’s easy to think we are weak, but that’s just a lie of the enemy. Being spiritually strong doesn’t mean overcoming is always easy — being strong means overcoming is often not easy, but we obey anyway. Even Yahshua Himself was nervous about His death on the cross to the point that His sweat was like drops of blood (Luke 22:44). It was not Yahshua’s feelings that justified Him, but rather His choice to obey regardless of His feelings. 2 Corinthians 12:10 says, “Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.”
5) Remember that the difficulties of the race are nothing compared to the joy of the finish line. Romans 8:18 says that “the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” Just think about that for a minute. The glory that awaits us is so magnificent, so great, so awesome that our present trials don’t even hold a candle to that glory. When you’re going through a trial, let it be a reminder of how great the coming reward is.
Finally, remember that Yahweh is the One who gives the victory (Phil 4:13). It’s not about boasting in what we can do — it’s about letting Yahweh show what He can do through us! Just as Yahshua persevered for the joy set before Him, let us also persevere for joy set before us — the joy of hearing our Father in heaven say “well done.”
“Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of Elohim in Messiah Yahshua.” — Phil 3:13,14
(Note: all Bible passages NASB unless otherwise indicated, Hebrew transl. added.)
Exhortation Station 
Good reminders — thanks!
Hosea 6:3
3“So let us know, let us press on to know the LORD.
His going forth is as certain as the dawn;
And He will come to us like the rain,
Like the spring rain watering the earth.”
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Most excellent Jonathan and a word in due season for me. Thank you for the encouragement!
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