Persist

Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. James 5:11 (KJV)

Why should we be happy about enduring? Because it means that we haven’t lost our faith in God, no matter what we’ve faced. Endurance is trusting God when we don’t understand, when things don’t go our way, or when things don’t turn out the way we wanted. We can stay happy, knowing we have a Bible example to follow: Job. In all Job went through, he trusted God, and he desired God above all else. We need to desire God more than anything else. As a result, we will seek Him for Who He is and not just what He can do for us.

We must be patient, knowing God is full of pity and mercy towards us, and that He is working things out for our good and our growth. We experience more growth in the hard times than in good. We can stay calm, stable, and happy knowing the end result will be God turning things around for our good, making us better people, and making our lives better. We are better as individuals when we endure and go through to the conclusion of a thing.

Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. II Timothy 2:3 (KJV)

Things are not always easy, but God gives us grace to endure. On the other end of a situation is reward and blessing. As we endure by staying in God’s Word and holding fast our profession of faith, we will emerge victorious and we will know God even better than we did before.

Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) Hebrews 10:23 (KJV)