Perseverance is a leadership quality that we do not hear that much about. It lacks the glamor and excitement of other leadership traits but it is foundational to overcoming obstacles, disappointments and setbacks. Perseverance keeps you in the game. It moves you forward when you feel like stopping. Many times, overcoming these setbacks makes us who we are. The process of persevering not only sees us through, but it is also produces something in us.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
The Benefits of Perseverance
Perseverance has multi-faceted benefits. When we apply this strength to our troubles it produces something that cannot be produced any other way. It makes us mature and fruitful. It also uniquely prepares us for the future challenges we will face. James also writes,
“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him”
When I studied this, I learned that the crown symbolizes a victory, such as by a champion athlete or a general who won a war.
When we face trials and persevere, we have the chance to be victorious. The idea is that when we persist to victory, we pass a test. However, if we try to avoid or sidestep the trial, we can end up taking the same test over and over in different forms.
Case Study: (Excerpt from Supernatural Business)
My daughter Nicole was having trouble with her boss and came to me to talk about it. After listening to what she had to say, I told her that she needed to speak to her boss and discuss the issue. However, she didn’t want to do that. She preferred the idea of quitting her job to confronting the trouble. I told her, “You need to deal with it because it’s not going to just go away.”
I will tell you what I told her: You can quit. You can avoid the problem. But the same thing you are dealing with now will merely come up again and again until you learn how to pass the test.
In supernatural business, we face many troubles, and perhaps our greatest challenge is learning to handle them God’s way. If you face a test and you do not pass, He will allow you to try the test again and again—until you pass it. It is actually because of God’s mercy that He allows us many chances to pass our tests and receive the benefits of the growth and refinement. The good news is that once you’ve passed a test, it becomes easier to pass that same test again later in life.
“Perseverance is not an issue of talent. It is not an issue of time. It is about finishing. Talent provides hope for accomplishment, but perseverance guarantees it.”
– Visit Supernatural Business to download or order your copy of Mike’s book.
– Session five of 5 Foundations to Building Godly Success is focused on the topic of Perseverance. Download the course videos below to view the session.
