Proverbs 17.3
“The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tests hearts.”
James 1.2-4
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
I have one last thought about the topic of adversity. In the passage from James, the word for “steadfastness” is hupomone, which can also be translated “endurance” or “perseverance.” It literally means “to bear up under.” The idea is this: Keep going. No matter how hard it gets — no matter the pain, difficulty, or darkness — don’t quit. Stay the course. Never give up.
Unfortunately, many people today give up too easily. When it gets uncomfortable or difficult, people first tend to compromise, and then they quit. They give in to mediocrity and give up to defeat. This is not the way of the kingdom of God. When the Christian faith is rightly lived, it is tenaciously persistent. It is relentless.
For some, the unexpected shock (and often disillusionment) of the Christian life is the difficulties they encounter. They naively assumed that life as a Christian meant freedom from adversity. Apparently they didn’t read their bible carefully, or if they did read it, they didn’t believe what is written. But scripture could not be more clear:
Jesus said it: “In the world you will have tribulation.”
Paul said it: “All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”
Peter said it: “Do not be surprised at the fiery trial that comes upon you to test you as though something strange were happening to you.”
James said it: “Count it all joy, my brothers, you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”
Proverbs said it: ““The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tests hearts.”
So there it is. Challenges, problems, and adversity are part of the Christian life. We will experience difficult situations, and we will be tested. In response, we are called to run with perseverance.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith.” (Hebrews 12.1-2)
To achieve anything great in life, you must be tenaciously persistent. You must be relentless. Examine any significant achievement in human history, and you will find people, teams, and organizations who did what was necessary, when it was necessary, for as long as necessary. And they endured and overcame adversity along the way.
God has designed a world where the “secret” to success isn’t a secret. It’s a discipline: The cumulative impact of daily action repeated over time. And since there is enormous power in persistence, it is no surprise that the evil one is “the god of giving up.” Satan is the source of the quitting voice. Do not listen to the god of giving up. Do not listen to the quitting voice.
Listen to the voice of the God who loves you and calls you, and be relentless.
Yes, sometimes it is a grind. But the very nature of faith-driven hupomone is that it endures and persists through the tedium, difficulty, and discomfort of the grind. It commits to the process, and actually thrives and gets better the longer it perseveres.
Perseverance is deep commitment to direction and duration. Did you get that? Let me say it again: deep commitment to direction and duration. Faith-driven perseverance moves you forward and empowers you to sustain your commitment to Jesus despite the inevitable obstacles you will face along the way. In the words of Eugene Petersen, life in Christ is “a long obedience in the same direction.”
Listen carefully to what the apostle Paul prays for us: “And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy.” ( Colossians 1.9-11)
I don’t know what is happening in your life right now, but I want to encourage you to persevere. Trust God, align your personal and professional goals with his Word, walk in the Spirit, and pursue those goals with relentless perseverance. When adversity strikes, which it will, be relentless and keep going.
“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)
