The Beauty of Perseverance

Perseverance is a major basic principle of life which in my opinion is one of the keys to success. I mean think about it, if you start a project and stumble into a few glitches, then you throw in the towel, at the end of the day what will you achieve? Success comes after a whole lot of commitment, determination, patience, endurance and dedication. What is perseverance? In simple words it just means keep on keeping on.

 Perseverance is the persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving it.  We all have big dreams of what we want to achieve in life, we even set goals that entail what, when we want to obtain results and how to go about it. However, I believe that in every plan one has to execute, God should be the centre of it all. Yes, during the process we might stumble and fall but that does not mean God is not in it, if we had put Him in it, in the first place. They are all lessons God teaches us in life in preparation of what is to come, in preparation of how to handle the success.

 James 1:12 (NIV): 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 say, the beauty of perseverance, I mean what comes after the endurance and commitment. Of course the road wouldn’t be easy, even most of the richest people in this world didn’t have it easy. They had to constantly remind themselves that quitting is not an option, if there are delays then work harder. When you stay steadfast to your dream and goals, that’s when you will reap the benefits and enjoy the beauty of perseverance.   I like how perseverance is described on a premature baby, born before its time, put in an incubator, fed through tubes but fights for survival despite all of that. We all need that determination in our own lives. Situations such as relationships, education, serving in a ministry department, business teaches us a thing or two on perseverance or patience. Let’s take a look at a business, starting one is not easy and striking those major deals but does not mean it is impossible. Another person might be after the same contract you want as well, but hard work and determination topped with prayer will separate your proposal from the rest. Quitting is not an option because someone has an eye on what you want, but rather you show up and you show them. Success is a must.

Hebrews 10:36 (NIV): You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.

Optimism is a characteristic of perseverance in my opinion. Things may go south, but staying optimistic helps one to persevere and keep the eye on the price, knowing good things are yet to come. I also feel like perseverance involves faith as well. Faith that what I have started, I am going to finish victorious no matter the challenges faced along the journey. To keep our hopes and aspirations afloat, we need to be persevering and steadfast so as to reach our maximum potential and success.

Acceptance

What is acceptance? What does it entail? In human psychology it means a person’s assent to the reality of a situation. Recognising a process or situation without attempting to change it or protest it, thus it causes less suffering than struggling vainly against it. Another angle to look at acceptance involves the word ‘ask.’ When we ask, we expect some kind of acceptance for example: asking  for forgiveness , we expect to be forgiven thus accepted in one’s life despite of past events. Asking to join an  organisation or institution, we wait for  acceptance. So acceptance also revolves around finding recognition whether in a family or community. At times people want to be accepted thus   changing who they are in order to show a certain type of person they think is rightfully accepted in their community. However, I am saying why changing who you are so you can be accepted. Rather accept who you are and society will just have to accept you like that.  I mean its really sad how young people tend to pretend to be what they are not so as  to gain acceptance and recognition especially at college, high school even amongst a group of friends. Why would you want to put yourself through so much just to be recognised. We subconsciously ask to be accepted in life through success, marriage, nice houses etc. There is a sublimation drive from society which is the bottom line of most people’s actions towards being accepted in any way possible.

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference. ‘

Acceptance is the opposite of rejection. In my last blog, I tackled on the issue of rejection and I realised not so many people would want to be at the opposite side of the good things. Because some do not handle rejection well, they spend their  entire lives trying to prove a point that you rejected me once but you shall eventually accept me type of thing. In the end we compromise our standards and principals in the name of acceptance. I have heard of girls or even guys going to lengths just to be accepted by the other, why not stop think a little and say ‘If this is who I am, what I have, what I have done, there are people out there who will accept me as I am. ‘

The first incidence in the bible that shows the issue of acceptance is in Genesis 4 v 7- 8 

"If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him." Can you see what the desire for acceptance led to, the first murder case in the bible. Cain was not satisfied with what he had to present before God, and he became jealous of his brother Abel and slew him. 

Now ask yourself why do you want so much to be accepted? Is it because you are not satisfied with your looks? Are not satisfied with the what you currently posses in terms of wealth and property? Are you trying so hard to acquire all these things that it leads you to sin? It is not wrong to desire to look good or have wealth nor it is not wrong, but do not let it posses you so much until it leads you to sin all just to be accepted by society. 

 Another important thing with acceptance is the ability to take in and accept the things you cannot change. I’m not saying one should get over something but rather strive to minimise the significance of past events or what happened and how you are feeling about it. We can’t change death for instance, its something we have to accept that someone beloved to us is gone forever. Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying we shouldn’t grieve, we should and then allow ourselves to accept that we can’t change death. Acceptance will bring healing and less suffering.

After all this has been said, it is a blessing to know that we are all accepted by God no matter how we look, what we have done through His mercy, grace and great love. 

Romans 14 v 18, “For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men."

He forever accepts as long as we come to Him with our own free will.