“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”
Two keys to winning in life are patience and perseverance in the things of God. Therefore, it is important to learn what patience is and how to successfully persevere. One dictionary definition of patience describes it as: “The capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset.” However, biblical patience is much more than that. Patience is not a passive waiting. It is an active event that takes determination and an ability to cast down thoughts that are not beneficial. “In your patience possess ye your souls.” Luke 21:19
Perseverance is similar to patience; however, it is even more active. It is defined by one dictionary as: “Persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.” You could also say that perseverance is the process of putting patience to work to achieve a desired goal. An even simpler way to say it is: “not taking no for an answer”.
Thomas Edison is famous for his perseverance in creating a better lightbulb. He had hundreds of opportunities to quit when his experiments failed time and again. Yet, he persevered until he finally achieved a working lightbulb. Imagine how his efforts have changed society forever for the better.
Since patience and perseverance are so important to success, it is a good endeavor to learn what helps a person to be patient and to persevere. As Christians, thankfully we already have patience given to us as part of our being a believer. It is one of the fruits of the spirit. Yet, we must develop it to receive the full benefit of that gift. One of the keys to being able to persevere and be patient is found in Philippians 4:8-9: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”
The key to success in this area is what we choose to think. 1 Corinthians 10:4-5: “(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ…” We must put not only a guard over our mouths, but over our minds as well. We do not allow just any thought to take up residence in our mind. One Pastor put it this way: “You can’t stop birds from flying over your head, but you can keep them from nesting in your hair.” If a thought does not fit the description in Philippians 4, then we need to cast it down. Do not keep thinking on it. Instead, refuse to think on it and choose to replace it with a good thought. No matter what happens in our lives, God promises us that: “…all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28 When we understand this, we are better able to approach the circumstance with a positive mindset. Instead of being upset that something didn’t go our way, we can thank God that somehow it is working for our good. We can praise Him for all the blessings He’s done for us in the past and thank Him for what He’s getting ready to do for us in the future. As we do this, it stirs up that joy in our hearts. “…for the joy of the LORD is your strength…” Nehemiah 8:10b
In order to not grow weary in well doing, we need strength. When we understand that the joy of the Lord is our strength, we can learn to stir up that joy by choosing good thoughts and saying only what God has to say. When you take your thoughts captive and replace them with God thoughts it gives you the endurance to persevere. When during a battle a person constantly focuses on the negative and evil, they will become weary and faint. However, Romans 12:21 tells us: “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”
When Paul and Silas were beaten and thrown into prison for doing good, they could’ve had a lot to complain about. However, instead of being depressed and angry about how they were treated, they chose to rejoice. Endurance takes strength, therefore endurance takes joy to operate. When you are going through a battle, stir up your joy by focusing on the good, not the evil. To endure patiently, means you endure joyfully.
1 Corinthians 15:58: “Therefore my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”
Further reading: Acts 16:16-40, Romans 4, Romans 5:5, James 1:2, Mathew 6:25-34
