I’m excited to have Landen Melton as my guest today—offering inspiration from the Bible on how we can persevere like Job, Jeremiah, Apostle Paul, the Persistent Widow and Jesus.
What does the word perseverance mean to you?
Perhaps you haven’t had to endure a lot of life’s ups and downs. Perseverance might not mean much to you.
Or perhaps, you’ve been put through the wringer so to speak. In that case, perseverance means a whole lot to you. It has a definition that you might not even be able to put into words.
Whatever the case, this word means different things to different people at different stages of life.
[bctt tweet=”Thank God for his impartiality. He doesn’t have favorites and shows the same love to the person in the pit as well as the person on the mountaintop. #perseverance #Godlovesusall” username=”BethSteffaniak”]
This is why we must all learn how to persevere in the faith, regardless of life’s circumstances.
5 Examples of Perseverance in the Bible …
The Bible isn’t silent on this topic either. There are numerous stories and scriptures on perseverance guiding us in this area. Let’s take a look at 5 examples of perseverance in the Bible and see what they can teach us.
1. Job
The first, and perhaps most popular story of perseverance that comes to mind, is the epic story of Job. His example was one of extreme pain and sorrow. Yet through it all, Job stayed true to God and his faith.
I suggest you read the story for yourself, in its entirety, but I’ll hit the highlights.
Job was a faithful man, blameless and upright. He served God and was a diligent follower. Satan wanted to prove a point to God, that he could break man’s will. So he asked if he could torture Job and God allowed it.
The only restriction God placed on Satan was he could not take Job’s life.
In the course of one day, Job was told by different servants that all his belongings and possessions, livestock and ten children had been killed or destroyed by natural disasters or thieves.
Despite all this, Job still praised God, even in his sorrow.
Next Job was afflicted with terrible skin sores and yet, he persevered and praised God. In his grieving and illness, Job’s friends came and sat with him. Despite the terrible advice they offered him, Job still praised God. But soon his praises turned to questions, bitterness and anger.
Job questioned how a just God could allow such terrible things to happen, even to a faithful servant.
God eventually intervened and implored Job to be brave. Realizing the power of God and overcome by it, Job recognized God’s true character and accepted his own faults and constraints as a human. Job also intervened for his friends and God had mercy on them, despite their horrible advice.
God then had mercy on Job and restored his health and all his possessions, granting him twice as much as he had previously, more children and a long prosperous life.
Job’s story is the ultimate test of faith and example of perseverance in the Bible. Even in the darkest times, through death and turmoil, questions of faith and God, Job was faithful and trusted God’s plan.
[bctt tweet=”We can lean into Job’s story as our own and trust that God’s plan is bigger and better than we can ever know. #lifeofJob #Biblecharactersinspire” username=”BethSteffaniak”]
2. Jeremiah
Jeremiah was blessed by God and tasked with preaching God’s word to his people. He is an example of perseverance by continually preaching and teaching God’s word, despite all that was done to him.
His faithfulness to share God’s revelations to an unfaithful nation is our ultimate example to persevere in preaching, teaching, and sharing the Gospel. We must always endure to share the good news of Jesus with our lost world.
Jeremiah faced threats, prison and much more to share his faith and God’s word. Will we?
Sometimes we forget how good we have it, especially in a country where we are ultimately free to say what we want. We have the choice to proclaim and share Jesus’ Gospel to anyone we want, but do we?
We forget that there are Christians around the world who don’t have that same freedom, who gather in house churches and basements to worship and share. They whisper and proclaim God’s word at the risk of imprisonment and sometimes even death!
Yet we’re too afraid to walk across the street and talk to our neighbor inviting them to church on Sunday.
We must be diligent to share the Gospel when God asks us. Jeremiah is a perfect example of this kind of perseverance in the Bible and we should follow his example, proclaiming Christ to those who would hear.
3. Apostle Paul
Paul is the ultimate example of perseverance in the New Testament.
No one has a better conversion story, going from killing Christians to becoming one, than Paul. Yet after his conversion, he became so on fire for the Lord that he faced many trials and persecutions.
No one details this better than Paul himself. In 2 Corinthians 11:23-33 (Click the link to read entire text), he lists some of the trials he faced.
He was …
- Imprisoned repeatedly
- Flogged
- Exposed to death again and again
- Received 39 lashes five times
- Beaten with rods three times
- Pelted with stones
- Shipwrecked three times
Just to name a few!
But let’s hone in on 2 Corinthians 11:30 …
“If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.”
Paul embodies what it means to persevere in the faith. His letters in the New Testament tell his story and are a crucial example of perseverance in the Bible we must follow.
4. The Persistent Widow
Jesus tells us a parable (story) of a widow in Luke 18:1-8 (Click the link to read entire text).
It is a perfect example of perseverance in the Bible we can follow.
It details how a widow goes before a Judge, who doesn’t fear God or man. She pleads with the Judge to right a wrong done to her by her adversary. She continually pleaded with him to do so.
After a while, he caved and even though he didn’t fear God or man, he avenged her wrong doing. She essentially wore him down.
The parable goes on to highlight how God will avenge his children—believers—even more swiftly than an earthly judge. When we continually cry out to God, he hears us.
This is a story to show us that persistently pleading with God, talking with him, praying and persevering in faith, will reap His rewards. He hears our prayers and listens to His children.
Take heart brothers and sisters. God hears us!
This example of perseverance by a widow is told to show us that whatever our problems are, even if we think they’re too little or too big, should be lifted up to God daily. He wants to hear from us. So we should bring them to a God who is mighty enough to solve them.
5. Jesus
Jesus himself is the ultimate display of perseverance until death. He was born, lived a sinless life, and taught us how to live by His example. He persevered through agony on the cross, gave His life for a sinner like me, and offered the most perfect example of endurance as he finished the race of life perfectly.
Jesus Christ is the ultimate example of perseverance in the Bible.
We can read his story, through the gospels, and follow his example and he shows us how to persist through adversity, pain, sorrow, mountaintops and valleys.
If we follow Jesus’ example …
[bctt tweet=”We can finish this life with a cry to God saying that we have lived a life worthy of praise, not by any deeds or actions we’ve done, but by the power of Christ in us for His glory. #persevereinChrist” username=”BethSteffaniak”]
Through His strength alone can we have victory over all life’s problems!
Interested in Scripture on Perseverance?
Click here to download a free “autumn” printable of these Scriptures on perseverance. And here for a “neutral” version.
Landen Melton is a web developer by trade and online entrepreneur by passion. He is the owner and creator of Devotable, an online Christian daily devotion project. Together with over 100 talented writers, they create inspiring online devotions that help encourage believers and share the good news of Jesus Christ daily.
Interested in a book of devotions on perseverance?
Be sure to check out Devotable’s new release, “Perseverance – 30 Devotions for Faith that Moves Mountains.” Landen compiled this book using Devotable authors, including me—Beth Steffaniak—to share our thoughts about what it means to persevere in this life.
I hope you’ll check it out!
Which of these biblical examples encourages you the most and why?
What difficulty or trial do you need to persevere through in life or marriage?
Here are some other lovely linkups I join – Inspire Me Monday, Literary Musing Mondays, Tea and Word Tuesday, Purposeful Faith, Tell His Story, Recharge Wednesday, Porch Stories Linkup, Welcome Heart, Worth Beyond Rubies Wednesday, Encouraging Word Wednesday, Sitting Among Friends, Destination Inspiration, Tune in Thursday, Heart Encouragement, Moments of Hope, Grace and Truth, Faith and Friends, Faith on Fire Friday, Fresh Market Friday, and DanceWithJesusFriday
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