And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. (Romans 5:3-4)

Perseverance Is Hard Work

Gary Player won more international golf tournaments in his day than anyone else. People have told him throughout his career, “I’d give anything if I could hit the golf ball like you.” On one particularly tough day, Player was tired and frustrated when once again he heard that comment, I’d give anything if I could hit the ball just like you.” Player’s usual politeness failed him as he replied tersely to the spectator, “No, you wouldn’t. You’d give anything to hit a golf ball like me if it was easy. Do you know what you’ve got to do to hit a golf ball like me? You’ve got to get up at five o’clock in the morning every day, go out on the course, and hit one thousand golf balls. Your hand starts bleeding; you walk up to the clubhouse, wash the blood off your hand, slap a bandage on it, and go out and hit another thousand golf balls. That’s what it takes to hit a golf ball like me.”

Perseverance is the ingredient to the Christian life. It takes the character of hitting the golf ball day after day, hours without end, to be successful. Knowing the Bible takes endless hours of reading and studying to come to a mature understanding of scripture. It does not happen all at once. If you have a daily Bible reading and prayer life, you will notice the subtle changes taking place. But it takes time. A child grows gradually, and a child of God grows gradually. Concerns are raised if a child does not show signs of growth, and doctors are called. The development of a child of God is harder to detect, but sadly, many who have been Christians for many years are still infants in the knowledge of God.

The idea of perseverance is the ability to keep on keeping on regardless of what is happening. Having a determined spirit to overcome a temptation requires a diligent heart unyielding to the corruption of sin. Satan can be defeated. The Holy Spirit tells the Christian to resist the devil, and he will flee. It takes a strong heart that has been exercised daily to overcome the wiles of the evil one. If a person begins each day with a renewed spirit of courage to overcome what needs to be done that day, they will find that in time, they can ‘hit the ball straighter and further.’

Professional athletes spend many hours honing their skills. Doctors become greater surgeons through endless hours of study and learning. The mature Christian is someone who has spent time in the Book, listening to the voice of God, talking to the Father, and encouraging one another. Experience is a great tutor of perseverance. Having a persistent spirit to remain faithful to the Lord is the singular goal of the Christian. They ask, “How can I become stronger?” And then they spend hours on the range hitting thousands of balls. If you want greater faith, put in the effort and you will be rewarded.