STAND FIRM|3 Bible Verses About Persevering
As the end of January draws near, there is an entire semester of school remaining in the school year. The weather is frigid and everyone is tired of shoveling snow. People are sick of the cold and flu season. New Year’s resolutions are falling by the wayside. It’s common to feel like life’s circumstances are unbearable and it is hard to keep trudging along when you encounter the difficulties of life. This blog article, written by Enlightium Academy’s very own Bible teacher, Heath Robertson, serves to provide you with some biblical guidance on what Scriptures you can turn to when you could use help staying the course. His insight on these 3 Bible verses about persevering through hard times may be just what you need to rely upon God’s word to stand firm and carry on.
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1 Timothy 4:7
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Galatians 6:9
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Romans 5:3-4
Words from Heath:
Indicatives and imperatives are the essence of perseverance. Because of what Christ accomplished through His life, death, and resurrection, the saints are exhorted to persevere in holiness. Because Christ has conquered death, reigns from heavenly Jerusalem, and indwells His people by the Spirit, the church gladly received Christ’s commands, which exemplify how to persevere in a worthy manner.
The church lives in what theologians call “the now-not-yet Kingdom age." Christ’s redemptive rule has begun from the right hand of the Father yet His kingdom-reign will not commence until His second coming and establishment of the New Heaven and New Earth. Because of this now-not-yet tension, the believer is called to live in light of “the yet” (the Kingdom of God on Earth) now via ethical imperatives—Bible verses about persevering.
The following 3 Bible verses about persevering are (1) Christ’s present and living exhortations to His bride and cherished possession and (2) a sure and constant guide for everyday living. It is of utmost importance to note that these Bible verses about persevering are not merely words of the past, but the Spirit’s abiding words of the present. These words are the eternal and sovereign King’s speech from heaven, which act on each of us today as they did on the saints of yesterday.
“But reject worthless and old wives’ fables; rather continually train yourself for godliness.” – 1 Timothy 4:7
This verse, the first of our Bible verses about persevering, comes from a paternally profound textual atmosphere. 
Paul affirms that “in the later times” (v.1) certain ones will abandon the faith by paying attention to false teachings, i.e., teachings contra the words of faith handed down by the Spirit through the Prophets of old and the Apostolic community. In light of this abandonment, Paul gives a fatherly exhortation to Timothy via a present active imperative; namely, Paul is commanding Timothy not only todo the verbal action, i.e., to train, but also to persevere in the action: continually train. Paul grounds the reason for this continuous command in the now-not-yet: …godliness is valuable in every way, [as] having promise for the present life and the life to come (v.8b). Paul exhorts Timothy to persevere in godliness because of Christ’s saving work today and Christ’s saving work yet-to-come (cf. v.10)! This Bible verse about persevering is a present and continuous command for us today; as Paul tells Timothy to be an example for all (cf.12, 15), the church is to continue this living tradition. An authentic living tradition is a tradition that faithfully practices/does what the word of God says. Amidst the moral compromises of today, continually train yourselves for godliness in light of our God and coming Savior, Jesus Christ!
“Let us not lose heart while doing what is good, for in due season we will reap if we do not grow weary.” —Galatians 6:9
This Bible verse about perseverance and determination is found at the end of Paul’s letter to the church of Galatia. Paul writes to the Galatian community in order to resolve false teachings concerning the Mosaic Law, i.e. justification by works of the law (e.g., circumcision; cf. 5:3, 6). Paul expressly communicates that just as Abraham was justified by faith apart from works of the law so too all who follow in Abraham’s likeness (i.e., faith) are declared righteous and made partakers of the covenantal promises: eternal life, eternal shalom, and an eternal stay in the land of promise under the eternal God and Davidic King, Jesus (cf. 3:29; Gen. 12:7; 15:17–21; 2 Sam. 7:8–17). Paul concludes his discourse with general exhortations on how one ought to live in light of this now-not-yet Kingdom age wherein Christ rules from heaven while the god of this world/Satan is at work in the world. Again, because of this now-not-yet tension, Paul urges the Galatians to “not lose heart while doing what is good,” that is, believers are to persevere while fulfilling the law of Christ (i.e., love unto God and neighbor; Gal. 6:2; cf. 5:13–14). In light of the coming Kingdom (i.e., “in due season”), the faithful are to persevere that they might reap the blessings of the Kingdom. It has been said, “Don’t be so heavenly minded that you are no earthly good,” yet according to Paul, our earthly “good” is contingent upon our “heavenly mindedness!” Christ has won our salvation and prepares a place for us. The future indicative of the eschatological Kingdom motivates the saints to live according to Christ’s imperative today—“You shall love your neighbor as yourself” because Christ is ushering in an immovable kingdom without end (5:14; cf. Lev. 19:18). The church is called to keep her eyes on what lies ahead, persevering in holiness for Christ’s Kingdom and glory (Phil. 3:12).
“Not only that, but we also boast in our affliction, knowing that affliction brings about endurance, and endurance brings about proven character, and proven character brings about hope.” —Romans 5:3–4
These Bible verses about persevering (Rom. 5:3–4) should be taken in context with the previous verses and particularly verse 2, which says, “… and we boast in the hope of the glory of God.” Romans 5:3–4 modify the aforementioned statement in verse 2, i.e., “Not only” do believers boast in the hope of the glory of God but also believers boast in their affliction or tribulation because this affliction is the means by which our hope of God’s glory is produced. Simply put, our present tribulations are the producer of our perseverance in the faith. In other words, perseverance builds character. Our trials become the makings of our character and our proven character, the makings of our present and future hope—the glory of God in full eschatological array. Again, as witnessed in the former passages, our perseverance is predicated upon living “the now/sufferings” through the lens of “the not-yet/the hope of the glory of God.” We are to be “heavenly minded” in order to actualize our “earthly good.”
It is important to note that in writing to the saints of Rome, Paul emphasizes unity in Christ. Not only have the saints died with Christ and risen with Christ (Rom. 6:3–5) but also believers share in the common trials issuing forth from the fall of humanity in Adam and creation under Adam’s rule (cf. Rom. 5:12-21; 8:18-25). All sufferings and hardships are for our boasting because such circumstances are preparing us for “an eternal weight of glory” (2 Cor. 4:17). There is profound meaning in our suffering—Christocentric meaning that transcends and overwhelms our present adamic-pains. What a marvelous thought! Boast in your toil and trial because such challenges produce a perseverance that culminates in the glory of God. No matter in what season of life we find ourselves, may these Bible verses about persevering cause us to lift our eyes to the perfecter of our faith—“… let us run with endurance the race that is set before us…” (Hebrews 12:1–2).
Before you make the decision to throw in the towel, take some time to really reflect upon the Bible verses about persevering that Heath has shared with us. Call upon the the power of God’s word through the Holy Spirit to give you the strength you need to persevere. We are so grateful to have Heath on the team of Christian teachers and staff that share their perspective with us on a daily basis. His wisdom and instruction is critical to equipping the young hearts and minds of Enlightium Academy students on a daily basis. If you are not yet part of our school family and are looking for an accredited online Christian homeschool program, please consider Enlightium Academy. Many families from all over the world have chosen to enroll at EA because we are an affordable, PreK–12 school, where students can work at their own pace on a flexible schedule with highly qualified teacher support. Click on the link below if you are interested in learning more.
