Perseverance is one of the greatest qualities in the life of anyone who's ever achieved anything.
The inventor Thomas Edison famously said: "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." He also said: "We often miss opportunity because it's dressed in overalls and looks like work."
Edison found fame and fortune not just because of his natural ability, but because he wouldn't give up.
Right now, the Paralympics are taking place in Rio. Many of the athletes there have had to overcome immense barriers to success before they even reached the arena of their chosen sport. But they made it because they persevered.
Christian perseverance is the same. We aren't naturally good, kind or loving. We have to work at it. We have to pummel our spiritual nature just as athletes pummel their bodies, to make them achieve everything they're capable of achieving.
Here are 10 Bible verses about perseverance.
1. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope (Romans 5:3-4).
2. Therefore, among God's churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring (2 Thessalonians 1:4).
3. May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance (2 Thessalonians 3:5).
4. 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 (Hebrews 12:1).
5. You know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance (James 1:3).
6. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything (James 1:4).
7. As you know, we count as 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).
8. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love (2 Peter 1: 5-7).
9. I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false (Revelation 2:2).
10. I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first (Revelation 2:19).
