Let’s cut to the chase…God didn’t promise you a life without pain, suffering, illness, and loss. He never said that once you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior that your life would suddenly become one of everything lovely, joyful, and easy. Quite the opposite! And I think that’s why we don’t like the word perseverance. Anytime we hear that word, all we can think of is suffering, effort, endurance, and discipline…all of which aren’t exactly fun to go through. But perseverance is necessary in developing our character, faith, and hope in God. Call it suffering well, hope under pressure, or patient endurance, we are to be like a runner, constantly moving forward in motion towards the goal set before us, despite any opposition that comes across our path…all the while fixing our eyes on our future reward…our promised eternal inheritance.