‘The testing of your faith produces perseverance.’ James 1:3 NIV
Perseverance keeps you going when friends fail you, discouragement whispers, ‘Give up,’ and doubt says, ‘It can’t be done.’ It’s your anchor in life’s storms, your compass when you’re lost, and the driving power that gets you up the next hill. James says, ‘The testing of your faith produces perseverance.’
Perseverance, which means to ‘keep on keeping on’, develops your faith. When the process is complete, God will end the trial, and not before. Meanwhile, here are three Scriptures you need to stand on:
(1) ‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.’ (Isaiah 43:1–2 NIV)
(2) ‘God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.’ (1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV)
(3) ‘Our sole defence, our only weapon, is a life of integrity, whether we meet honour or dishonour, praise or blame… We are… always “going through it” yet never “going under”. We know sorrow, yet our joy is inextinguishable. We have “nothing to bless ourselves with” yet we bless many others with true riches. We are penniless, and yet in reality we have everything worth having.’ (2 Corinthians 6:7–10 PHPS)
So persevere; everything you’re going through right now will be more than worth it in the end. So don’t give up.
SoulFood: Rev 1–4, Mark 13:12–23, Ps 117, Pr 12: 20–22
The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright ©