In the Face of Difficulty (part 1)

Persevere (per·se·vere /ˌpərsəˈvir): (verb) continue in a course of action even in the face of difficulty or with little or no prospect of success.

YOU CAN DO IT

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance’ and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affections, love.  2 Peter 1: 5-7

In hindsight, I wonder if Peter wished he would have emphasized the “perseverance” part?  I’m sure life was not all easy for him, and some days and weeks and months were harder than others.

The universal problem when invoking the “persevering” part of one’s self means that you are caught in the middle darkness between knowing your current challenge and the memories you’ve experienced in it thus far and the pursuit of an outlying goal, or worse, not having any idea as to when or how to resolve the challenge. It probably isn’t fun and you may feel stuck. Therefore, you keep on slogging through hardship, some rejection, or unknown circumstances.  You persevere.

It’s in the Bible

Not only does Peter mention it in his second letter, but it is also a full Biblical concept.  Moses persevered against his character and Pharaoh, Daniel continued in his commitment to his God against the will of his co-workers, the woman described in Proverbs 31 persevered against the temptation of being idle, and Peter himself persisted while in prison, amongst many other examples.  While you may never argue against the ruler of a country, threatened with certain death as a result of praying, or even be thrown into prison, hardships are an unwritten fact of life that will come your way in its various forms.

It’s in Life

The hard lessons we learn start when we are young when the blocks don’t stack the way you would like or your sibling doesn’t want to play with you. They later lead to the middle school kid that makes fun of you or awkward body changes.  These earlier troubles foretaste the AP high school class that drowns you in arduous work, the college roommate you thought would be a better friend or the rejection of job opportunities or relationships.  Subsequently, financial hardships, tragedy, and so many more things come your way.  Amid your feeling blessed despite the challenges, you see someone else’s situation being easier than yours, or you might be tired, and you wish your lesson of perseverance, trying to trust God and His sovereignty, would be over.  You may not see an end. 

But there is hope in God

If you are older and can think of your own experiences, you better understand how life difficulties seem to be God’s way of testing your faith and a way to grow your reliance on Him.  As Jesus repeatedly asked Peter “Do you love me?” in John 21, God continues to ask you, “Do you love me?” through struggles.  Your answer, as hard as it gets, should always be a resounding “YES!”, but the practicality of that is more straightforward in speech than in action.

I will speak more to HOW (in action) to persevere next time.  In the meantime, Psalm 18:2 is a verse to hold onto in your memory bank.  It is a truth that can be the groundwork that supports the action of working through your trial and a promise that will never waiver nor fade.  “The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”

TO BE CONTINUED