Home Sweet Home Part IV - Essentials of Perseverance

In the past three weeks we’ve discussed the Essentials of a Strong Family, of Strong Communication, and of being Financially Strong and I am confident you will strive to achieve those essentials. However, once you embark on that journey, things may actually get a little worse before they begin to get better. There are many reasons for that, including change takes discipline, it takes time, and it is often met with resistance, or outright pushback. 

With that in mind, Part IV of this series is designed to help you build perseverance to forge ahead when everything in you is suggesting otherwise. 

A survey of divorced couples conducted by the Oklahoma Marriage Initiative found eighty-five percent of those surveyed indicated that the lack of commitment was a major contributing factor to their divorce. Included in the study was a survey of currently married persons who had gone through a period when both believed their marriage to be in such serious trouble they had contemplated divorce. Ninety-two percent of these couples said they were glad they chose to work things out and were still together.

Ninety-two percent chose perseverance and it paid off. Change is difficult and unfortunately efforts to change are not always successful. However, deciding to persevere is the first step which changes the most important variable in that process…your mindset, your focus, and your determination to succeed. 

I. It May Take Some Time

As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. - James 5:11

II. It Takes Patience Too 

And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience. - Colossians 1:10-11

III. Characteristics of Perseverance

Humility 

And he said, “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” - Job 1:21

Knowledge / Wisdom 

In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind. - Job 12:10

“With God are wisdom and might; he has counsel and understanding. - Job 12:13

And he said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’” - Job 28:28

Trust / Faith / Hope

For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me! Job 19:25-27

Influence

Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. - 1 Timothy 4:16