Why Perseverance Is so Important

While searching for inspirational YouTube videos, I was impressed by how many of them encourage viewers to persevere despite major obstacles, failures, and disappointments.

Perseverance means persistence, steadfastness, endurance, holding on, standing firm, tenacity, stick-to-it-iveness, keeping on keeping on, stamina, grit, hoeing your row to the end, staying the course, crossing the finish line. What is the opposite of perseverance? Surrender, caving in, calling it quits, walking out, throwing in the towel, giving up, bailing out.

Perseverance is one of the hardest things we can ever do, but it is essential in so many areas of life — marriage, work, sports, relationships, overcoming addictions — and most importantly, living the Christian life.

Why Christians Must Persevere

• We are striving for a future, invisible reward (Hebrews 11:1-2, 13-16, 24-26).
• Satan will do all he can to discourage us, distract us, and defeat us.
• The reward we seek is promised to those who stay true to the end (Matthew 24:12-13; Hebrews 3:6, 14; II Timothy 4:6-8).

Three Values of Perseverance

• It enables us to push through the hard times (II Thessalonians 1:4; Romans 12:11-12).
• It enables us to bear the fruit God desires in us (Luke 8:15; Galatians 6:9; Romans 2:6-7).
• It gives us the power to finish strong (Hebrews 12:1).

How We Endure

• We keep our eyes on Jesus, who endured far more than we (Hebrews 12:1-3).
• We aim for the reward (Hebrews 10:23, 32-39; James 1:12; II Timothy 2:12).
• We diligently cultivate the qualities that enable us to attain “entrance into the eternal kingdom” (II Peter 1:5-11).

What We Must Know

“…we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope…” (Romans 5:2-4).

“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:2-4).

“Therefore, 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” (I Corinthians 58:58).