Perseverance is not something many aspire to today. In many cases, having to endure something to the point of persevering is being communicated as a harsh and unacceptable situation for someone to have to go through.
Yet, it is in the perseverance itself where the greatest benefit can be found.
Why? Because going through something difficult makes us appreciate the beauty found in overcoming our circumstance or in accomplishing goals we have set.
I believe the idea we should not be forced to deal with difficulties is not only an unrealistic expectation, it makes it more difficult to accept those situations when we do.
In fact, if we are constantly sheltered from the problems of life, we will not be prepared to deal with life’s problems when they arise. Conversely, we need to understand being able to face and overcome the ups and downs of life may very well be the best part of living.
To be able to deal with the challenges life can bring, we must be “prepared to persevere”.
We can do this by seeing the obstacles we face as opportunities to overcome. Here is where the strength of our character can be developed to allow us to reach heights, we never dreamed possible.
The choice, as with everything, is an individual one. The willingness to see perseverance as part of our personal growth will lead us to not only push forward with confidence, it will help us to have hope in the middle of life’s challenges.
The question is how will we see those challenges? Will you see them as opportunities to overcome or will we see them as something insurmountable to be overwhelmed by?
The answer we provide will determine whether we are “prepared to persevere” or not.
If we make the right choice, we will be able to rely on a hope that will not disappoint us.
It is this hope that makes perseverance possible!
Romans 5:3-5, “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
