Persistence Pays
By Lisa U Maki
Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience. But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfectly and fully developed lacking in nothing (James 1:2-4).
Read these verses carefully and you will see that what will make us fully developed and lacking in nothing is our endurance, steadfastness, and patience. These three characteristics all refer to being persistent, which simply means "not giving up". This Scripture also says that persistence is developed through trials.
It is not easy to be persistent when you have a plan B, another option, or another way out. But when you are locked up in a situation and you don't have a way out, then you have no choice but to persist, otherwise you can lose your mind. I mean, think about marriage. If a woman walking down the aisle during her wedding has a Plan B in her mind in case the marriage doesn't work out, the first signs of trouble may send her running away and divorcing her husband. On the contrary, if a woman knew from the beginning that God hates divorce and that marriage is a lifetime commitment, then she has no other option but to remain married. She will continue to stay in that marriage and be persistent because she has no other alternative.
I don't want to picture persistence as just having no choice or option. I want to present it as a wise choice that we should make, because the rewards are great. The Scripture above says that if we are persistent, then we will be complete, lacking in nothing. This means that when we persist, we allow God to complete His work in us. We are able to go through the process that is necessary to win the race. We don't come out as half-baked or deformed but "just right"... "perfect" even.
During my years of waiting, I couldn't understand what the hold-up was. I was casting out and rebuking all hindrances, without realizing that those hindrances were placed by God Himself. Looking back, I now understand. Had God allowed me to be with my promised man earlier than the actual date, both of us wouldn't have been ready. And if we didn't persist in waiting, we would have lost this beautiful love that we now share.
Whatever it is that you are waiting for, continue waiting with persistence, no matter how difficult it gets. God is never late but is always on time... and His time is always perfect. Remember, He makes all things beautiful in His time.
Lisa Maki is the founder of God'z Gurlz, a Bible-based online magazine for women whose mission is to is to provide a place where women can learn to manage their emotions, experience healing, receive love and acceptance, be free to be who God made them to be, and be the best they can be in their homes, schools, professions, relationships, and calling, through sharing of insights and experiences, counseling, prayer, and devotionals, thereby learning from and supporting each other. For more of Lisa's articles, visit http://godzgurlz.com/ Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lisa_U_Maki Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6855200