Perseverance Equals Strength
I’m continually in awe of the nuggets of truth I uncover when I read Proverbs. One verse in particular struck me this week; Proverbs 24:10 (NIV) reads, “If you falter in times of trouble, how small is your strength!”
As I’ve mulled over that verse, I’ve thought of plenty of examples that demonstrate the great strength of those who persevere. Job didn’t waver in the face of great tragedy, not to mention the prompting by his friends to give up. The early church in Acts held firm despite widespread persecution, and many people had faith that Jesus would heal them even in the most dire of circumstances.
For a non-Biblical example, I’m reading a book about the history of American conservatism, and the author spent an entire chapter on the growth and coalescence of the conservative movement in the 1960s and 70s that led to Reagan’s elections. The various conservative factions banded together in a difficult era to promote a fairly unified vision and achieve success.
In the last year and ten months, I’ve seen my share of troubling times, both in the church and in my personal life. I’m grateful that God has given me the strength to persevere and not falter.
In what ways can you see God’s strength helping you stand firm? In what ways could you use more of His help?