Benefits and Lessons from Perseverance
Hebrews 12:1-3 New International Version
12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Our Perseverance is built from a place of dwelling in the presence of God.
It is tough when we go through suffering; it is not easy especially when when it comes to us from Christians or those who profess to be believers. We should know that God allows us in such circumstances because He is training us to become better Christians but also there are benefits. He will give us the strength to go through it. Even when God allows us to go through such suffering, He is surely training us as well as training the other party who might be inflicting the suffering upon us. We need to leave it to God but take the lessons.
Perhaps the prayers we make to the Lord to strengthen us or help us trust Him more bring about the tough times so that our faith in God will begin to grow.
Bearing witness
We are surrounded by people who really want to see, hear and know how our God works to sustain us through the tough times. Those are some of the witnesses that God puts in our path; soon those people will glorifying our God for rescuing us. Some of them might also be transformed because they experienced God through our life. There are people looking at us who are going to change because of what we are going through.
Spiritual growth
The experiences we go through in life will shape our perspective of things, people and the world generally. When your perspective of things changes you will realize there is something God is building and watering that no one can take away, it pushes us to look at things differently, away from the ordinary appearance. There are hardships in life which push us to a place of discovering God through fervent prayer for example we can be pushed to a place or prayer in the late hours of the night or early hours of the morning and this builds our spiritual life in God.
Fruit of the Holy Spirit
Galatians 5:22-23 King James Version
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Having had the experience of long suffering makes a difference from just knowing what the scripture says about that fruit of the Holy Spirit. The suffering and hard times is just the process we go through that will result in the fruit of the Holy Spirit being made manifest in our lives. We ought to fix our eyes on Jesus.
A generational blessing
The generations after us will enjoy the fruits of our perseverance and patience. David fought battles that his son Solomon did not fight. He needed peace to build the temple of God. There is someone who you are fighting on their behalf in the battles you encounter now. Whatever you are going through you must know that you are saving the next generation and not yours alone.
Hebrews 12:3 New International Version
3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
We are enjoying the fruit of Christ’s suffering because He endured suffering. So let us also endure the present suffering that those who come after us will not suffer the same hardship. Let us not give up because Christ went before us and has already overcome. All we need to do is to fix our eyes onto Him.
Share it
There is someone who has gone through a similar hardship or their situation was worse so do not die alone. Share with someone who has gone through it and you will be strengthened. Their testimony will encourage and strengthen you to walk on as you learn a thing or two on how to overcome your own situation.
Follow instructions
For reason that we are always in Him, we are constantly hearing from Him. God orders our life through His instructions. When we fall short of these instructions there is need to learn from our mistakes but also go back to Him and ask for forgiveness lest we condemn ourselves. However, there are consequences for not following God’s instructions when we are going through times of suffering.
Learn to give thanks
Tell God exactly how you feel because He understands exactly what you are going through. He expects us the give thanks in every circumstance. There in the moment of thanksgiving God reveals His love and warm embrace towards us.
Own up
Do not blame everyone; we need to realize that God is doing a good work in us. There are painful moments when people hurt us and we do not forget but God helps us to release and forgive those who have hurt us and not to hold the blame against them. Blaming others never gets us anywhere anyway.
We are on this journey and we will get there. Do not give up because at the end of it all there is a crown. There is a promise God is about to fulfill through your hardship and those who persevere to the end will overcome.
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