Jesus said to His followers that we will have trouble in this world (John 16:33). It doesn’t matter where you live or how much money you have or what kind of success you have gained. It doesn’t even matter how much faith you have or how faithful you have been to God in your daily life and work. Some troubles simply come from living in this fallen world and are common to everyone (illness and natural disasters). Other troubles like persecution and rejection are related to being a child of God living in an unbelieving world. Then there are those we inflict upon ourselves because of sin still present within us (our own bad choices) or troubles that others inflict upon us because of their bad choices. Either way, we get stuck with the results. Regardless of the cause of our struggles, in order to not only survive but also to thrive over a lifetime of ups and downs, you and I need to have something called perseverance, something the Bible says is good for us.

By definition, “perseverance” is holding to a course of action, belief, or purpose without giving way. Perseverance, like endurance, is the quality that enables a person to stand on her feet when facing a storm head-on. It refers to active staying power and tenacity to hold up under some long-term burden, not just getting stuck in traffic. It carries the idea of whole life experience. Sadly to say, we can’t learn perseverance from a book. We can only learn it through experiencing difficult times.

God’s way of developing perseverance in our lives is this: “Prepare by instruction; learn by experience.” Our instruction comes from the Bible, especially viewing the work of God in the lives of men and women during much of their lifetime. We can see God’s faithfulness to them and be confident in His faithfulness to us as well. He is the same God after all. Learn by experience is living out the truths we have learned. Perseverance involves a choice. And, there are rewards for choosing to persevere all the way to the finish.

Biblical hope is not wishful thinking but a confident, eager expectation of a coming certainty based on the character of God to back up His promises. Our hope is rooted in the faithfulness of God. That hope enables us to persevere through the rough-and-tumble of real life.

In Profiles of Perseverance, you will view the work of God in the lives of 4 Old Testament Men (Joseph, David, Elijah, and Nehemiah) during much of their lives. You will gain a long-term perspective through the rough-and-tumble of real life. You will discover that a sustained hope rooted in the faithfulness of God enables you to persevere faithfully through your life as well. Are you ready to develop perseverance in your life?

The best way to study the Bible uses the inductive process. First, carefully observe the text. What does it actually say? Then, interpret the text. What was the author’s intended meaning for the audience that would read or hear it, including us today? And finally, apply what you learn. How do you live this out in your life? This is the best way to study the Bible. Look at what is there. Learn what it means and teaches you. Then, live it out in your life. All “Joyful Walk Bible Studies” use the inductive process.