Never Give Up

2 Peter 1:5,6 (NKJV)
5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness

Within the ladder of godly characters, the next rung of the ladder, Peter now wants to emphasize perseverance. This subject, once again, is not a popular topic in the church and definitely not in America. We do not want to wait for anything and anything less than instant is unacceptable. But God states quite the opposite story. He constantly encourages us that waiting on Him and His timing is always worth the pain and difficulty it takes to accomplish the goal.

The main reason that we do not want to discuss patience is because of the method which God uses to breed patience. Paul says, “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance”, (Romans 5:3, NKJV). If trials and tribulations allow patience to be worked out in our life, no wonder we try to avoid this. Most of us want to choose the easiest way or the way of least resistance. But anyone who has journeyed on a difficult long-term challenge knows that they need to work through some very difficult problems and stick to it in order to accomplish the goal. God also uses the same method. He has goals and potentials for each of us individually and He will bring us through the trials of life if we trust Him. In order to pass His tests successfully we must invoke endurance and patience.

Our job is to obey. If we obey, the testing period will last much less time. But if we resist or ignore God, He may have us take and retake the test until we get it right. If we harden our heart, then God cannot use us in that way. We need to submit to the will of God, persevere in trust, let Him work out the problems in our life and then we can reap the benefits of blessing.

James even encourages us to anticipate trials with joy, looking forward to the end result of greater godliness. He says, “2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:2-4, NKJV).

So often, we want God to give us patience, but we want Him to give it to us right NOW. We cannot go from childhood to adulthood overnight. We also need to persevere with others. We need to continually present the gospel and live a godly life in front of others, no matter if we are accepted or rejected. Look at Noah, he built a boat in the middle of the desert before it ever had even rained. It took him 120 years and much rejection of others around him. In the end, he and his family were saved, but the rest of the world was destroyed.

Thoughts, comments, objections, prayer requests.

Daniel A. Smith