Perseverance is persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.
When I was 17 years old, God called me into youth ministry. I made a commitment, for good or bad, to do it for life whether professionally or otherwise. A calling is a conviction, it’s personal and even I do not understand it.
The year I was in Masters Commission (a one year discipleship program) my direct Lloyd Ziegler, told us he had a decision to make; allow his teaching certificate to lapse and stay in ministry or keep it as a safety net. It was his conviction to let it lapse. That spoke this to me, God was his safety net not his teaching certificate.
This reminds me of the story of Cortés and the burning of his ships to show that there was no going home for him, only pushing forward to victory. No safety net but victory.
Maybe, like me, you find yourself in a place of difficulty and/or delay. What keeps you going? Why do you keep doing what you’re doing?
Perseverance can only come from conviction. What do you so deeply believe in that it’s worth burning your ships over?
If you feel like your perseverance is waning, go back to your convictions. Stoke the fire of conviction, with the question, “If I quit what I feel called to do, will it matter?” If the answer is yes, don’t quit.
If you’re ever in doubt as to why difficulty and delay exist, they exist to prove your convictions.
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12