Perseverance or endurance is one of the essential qualities of a Disciple of Christ.

Hebrews 10:36 reads, “For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.” A Faith that is enduring trusts God regardless of the situations, and circumstances. This kind of a faith is nurtured over time, day in and day out, through our relationship with God.

Faith brings answers to prayers, but Enduring Faith that perseveres builds our character. You have most likely heard it said, “God is more interested in our character than our comfort.” If an answer to prayer is delayed, perhaps it is for our wellbeing of maturation so that we become more mature to steward the very answer to the prayer we have been praying.

1. Enduring Faith comes through Prayer. Jesus tells us, “Men ought to always pray and not lose heart.” So how do we maintain in the waiting process and not lose heart?
We must learn and continue to learn to trust His Character, as He sanctifies our character. “The whole meaning of prayer is that we may know God.”

2. Enduring Faith comes through Praise. Some battles are won only by Praise. Will we Praise The Lord in the midst of adversity and challenge? Praise should grow in pressure. May we never ever surrender our Praise. When we lift our voices and exalt Jesus, our spirit man is strengthened.

3. Enduring Faith comes by hearing God’s Word. (Romans 10:17). Faith is established on God’s Word and Faith is fortified on God’s Word. A faith that becomes weak is a faith that has been negligent in His Word and fellowship with Him.

4. Enduring Faith works by Love. (Galatians 5:6) The deeper the intimacy, the stronger the faith. The greater The Love we develop for Him, the more we desire to please Him at all costs.

5. Enduring Faith comes through tests and trials. Romans 5:3-4 States, “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, & character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.”

“These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold.” (1 Peter 1:7.) We all can testify; these times are tough! Warren Wiersbe stated, “A Faith that cannot be tested, cannot be trusted.”
We would like to say, it will get easier, but this is just not true on this side of eternity. And all along, Our Father in Heaven is developing us into Disciples that indeed steward an enduring, sustainable faith. George Mueller, said this, “To learn strong faith is to endure great trials. I have learned my faith by standing firm amid severe tastings.”
It is a must to stay in dialogue with Him through prayer & feasting on His Word, so that we can endure in our faith. It is utmost that we make it our lifelong ambition to get to know Him better. For us to endure hardships we must know Him intimately & therefore trust is fortified. The Spirit of God is jealous for us; He doesn't want superficial fellowship, but genuine intimacy.
“All of us have lost battles, And All of us bear scars. Failure does not surprise us or discourage us. We simply fall forward, dust ourselves off, and rise to battle on, for we know how this ends. God Wins.” Dick Brogden.

Onward Christian Soldiers marching as to war, with the Cross of Jesus going on before! Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe; forward into battle, see His banner go!
The old cherished and well-known hymn, “Onward Christian Soldiers” was written in 1871. It was taken from a reference from God’s Word out of the New Testament. “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” 2 Timothy 2:3.
“ When He has tried me, I will come forth as refined gold, pure and luminous.” Job 23:10. God uses our trials to refine and purify our faith making it stronger and more resilient.