Perseverance
(noun)
I love the words that define perseverance. Each word makes me want to stand on top of a mountain and scream, “I will never give up.” As I think about ‘perseverance’, my mind races through Bible verses that share the message of this powerful “P” word – that each one of us must hold onto as we do this thing called life.
One of my favorite scriptures is Acts 20:24:
“But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the Gospel of the grace of God.”
You ask, “Where is the word perseverance in this verse?”
It’s there. In order for me to finish my course and ministry, I must persevere.
Have you ever thought about applying this verse to your marriage?
God knew right from the beginning of time that men and women would need to persevere through this life and to walk alongside of each other. They would be able to lean on, inspire, hold, love, cry with, and encourage one another as they do their ‘course and ministry of marriage’ together to testify to the grace of God. (Yes, our marriages are a ministry to our husband or wife and to the world around us.)
My husband, Matt, and I have been married for 20 years and only by the grace of God have we been able to get here. And of course, it’s not over, so we’ll need a whole lot more grace from God and each other to finish well.
How have we made it through 20 years of marriage? Perseverance.
We work hard to get through the difficult times by leaning on the Lord. We try to outserve one another. We try to guard our mouths, minds, and hearts, so that we reflect love towards the other. And we always, always remember that we cannot allow our feelings to dictate our decisions.
Marriage is tough, but it’s one of the most beautiful gifts that one can receive. Remember, perseverance is “steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.” Continue to finish your course and ministry well, running the marriage race showing the unbelieving and believing world we are not quitters, but doers with persistency, tenacity, determination, and staying power.
“Marriage is not a noun; it’s a verb. It isn’t something you get. It’s something you do. It’s the way you love your partner every day.” — Barbara De Angelis
Shari Rigby’s film, Extraordinary, is an ideal movie to encourage couples to go the distance in their marriages. For more information, visit www.extraordinarymovie.com.