Learning Keys To Perseverance

Do you ever feel overwhelmed at what is in front of you? Worn out from the past? Measuring inferior for the future?

Do all the “mountains” of tomorrow seem too much to travail?

Life has a way of asking more than we can feel up to giving at times.  Faith too, for that matter. But what if we could learn how BEST to respond so that we COULD persevere?

Not having the option to bypass what seems too difficult can deplete our strength before we even get started. The writer of Hebrews understood this, making a call for perseverance to a group of Jewish Christians that were contemplating giving up. They were being tempted to return to Judaism.

The book of Hebrews addresses several needs. It argues the superiority of Christ to angels, Moses and the High Priest while warning against the serious dangers of apostasy. Towards the end, the author (thought to be either Paul, Barnabas, or Apollos) gives some great practices that, if implemented, help believers walk out their faith better equipped for trying times.

Chapters 10-13 are extremely rich in their insight for not only examples of people who persevered well, but also how to establish ourselves so that WE TOO can persevere, finishing the race marked out for us as believers. I find it interesting how the writer chose to word some of these suggestions. He used a specific phrase repeatedly- “Let us…”.

I don’t believe there is anything in the Word of God accidentally. Therefore, when I see something repeated often, I begin to take notice, seeking further what lessons are there for me. If you know me personally, you know I am all about “how to”. Being a practical person, I want to understand so that I CAN know HOW to do what is needed.

Hebrews 10:19-25 begins a list of keys that can help with perseverance.

19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

 

So what does the writer advise those needing to persevere? What practices can we implement to equip us for those moments of weariness?

1. Let us draw near to God. Because of our faith in Jesus Christ, we can feel assured and guiltless as we approach God Almighty. We have the privilege of drawing close to living life with intimacy with the Glorious Father, gaining grace such as wisdom, knowledge, strength, peace, perspective and so much more! By seeking to walk closely with the Lord, we best position ourselves for what we need in life to automatically flow from Him to us and through us. One of my favorite verses is Romans 11:36 where it states, “From Him, through Him and to Him are all things….” This verse reminds us how God is the center of our faith and needs to stay central in our perspective, affecting how we feel as we are faced with the “mountains” ahead of us.
2. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess. I remember feeling overwhelmed by some trying circumstances in our life a couple of years ago. In reality, there was no sign of hope about how our problems could be solved. Nothing on the horizon to signal answers to our needs. BUT, I would still cling tenaciously to what I knew……I didn’t care what I could or could not “see”. I knew that I believed in a loving Heavenly Father who was not bound in the least to reality. I remembered that ALL things are possible for those who believe and are called children of God. My hope did not have to match the possibilities of my “realistic” future. That IS faith- being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we cannot see (Hebrews 11:1-2).
3. Let us consider how we can spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Who do you have in your life closest to you? Who are your best supporters? I have chosen to make people from my own church family, and other dear believers, my closest friends. I have surrounded myself with a support system of people that seek God above all. They love and support me with the words and actions that please the Father first and foremost. They fear His Name. Therefore, when I am feeling weary or intimidated by the “mountains” in my life, they respond as God would have them to- praying and challenging me. They tell me what I NEED  to hear, even if it isn’t what I WANT to hear. If you have unbelievers, or only baby Christians advising you, the odds of perseverance are less likely. It is too easy to give up doing the hard things in life, even when they are the right things if you don’t have the right people spurring you on. That is also my responsibility and privilege for them.
4. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing. There is a growing, alarming trend in Christian families where church attendance is not valued or protected. The children’s sports leagues and travel are habitually coming first. The priority of the family regularly attending and being involved in a local church body is secondary to hobbies and vacation homes. Children are growing up learning that God is not worth valuing above selfish interests. We are teaching the next generations that “God” is what we do on Sundays if there isn’t anything better to do. Needless to say, by removing ourselves from a vibrant church life, we are putting not just ourselves at risk of losing our faith momentum and perseverance, but also the salvation and devotion of the future generations. Let me ask you, ” Is baseball or soccer worth THAT?” Whatever pulls you away from your church body on a regular basis, becomes a threat to your ability to persevere.
5. Let us encourage one another. I am blessed to be a member of a church where we have fellowship groups. This is where we live life together. We meet every other week, discussing the previous week’s sermon, and sharing any concerns or struggles we may have. We listen. We pray. We love one another. Most of all, we encourage each other as we represent a variety of life stages in our group. Those ahead of others in age or season of life offer perspective and hindsight. Those younger offer loving support to the older ones going through hard times. Going through difficult days is much easier by my relationship with this group because they encourage me. That, in turn, gives me strength to persevere one more day, one more week, one more month.

These are five keys from Hebrews 10 and I will be adding three more from Hebrews 12 in my next post. By incorporating these practices into our lives as Christians, we will be equipped with what we need to persevere beyond, and through, what seems so impossible today.

Our Father fully intends to supply what we need for what He calls us to, but we have to be the ones to implement His suggestions for what will make all the difference! Share on X He still wants to add heros to the faith, just as those who persevered were listed in Hebrews 11.

We fail when we refuse or ignore His grace before us. It is there for our taking, so let us become the heroes we dream of, as we travail more than we ever thought capable of, to the honor and glory of His Name!