Ever watch an old dog trying to take a nap while a bouncing puppies vigorously attacks him. While the old dog lays still the puppy darts in and jumps back, nipping at the giant's ears and tail, growling and bearing it's tiny fangs as fiercely as the minature marauder can manage. All the while, the old dog pretends not to notice, eyes closed lying still as the attack continues.
The old dog knows he can stop the attack with one will placed nip or likely with just the barring of a real set of fangs and a deep growl warning of inpending doom. But he doesn't return in kind, he doesn't warn the little tyke off, he just lies there enduring the attack patienttly.
Why? Why doesn't the old dog push back against the pup? Why does he allow such abuse? Two things: 1) It's part of puppy development and 2) the old dog does not feel threatened by the puppy. Because it knows all is well, he puts up with the torment of the little tyke for now, waiting patiently for it to run out of steam.
What I have just described is the biblical meaning of the word perseverence - the act of willingly enduring something, even if you could put an end to it. Just enduring painful times is not to persevere. Many get to the other side having wined and fussed the entire journey through. Others worry and fret not knowing if they will endure or not. But the one who perseveres does so in a quiet calm stemming from a knowledge that there is purpose in the pain and victory in the end.
James wrote, "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. Let perseverance fihish its work so tht you may be mature and complete, not lacking in anything" (Js 1:2-4). To persevere is not to just get through but it is to go through with a purpose and with a calm found in knowing that Jesus has already won the victory. Whinning is replaced with winning and fear is replaced by faith. Jus' Say'n.
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