Do You Have What It Takes?

I was searching for some answers and more thoughts on perseverance. I ended up coming across a pretty cool site: http://www.ucgstp.org/vcm/vol08/iss02/perseverance.htm

I would highly recommend taking a few minutes to read the whole article on the website. I was going to try to just put some parts of it in here, but it really should be read all together. Here is one excerpt that is worth reading that goes along with my last post, but take the time to read the whole article; it's really good. It brings encouragement and perspective to so much in life.

Do you have what it takes?

While mustering human perseverance can pay off, most people are still not as successful as they could be, because they fail to utilize one additional critical key in becoming a successful overcomer -- God's help and backing. On our own, even with extraordinary effort like that exhibited by the British people, we do not have everything it takes to learn from and master the challenges of life (John 15:4-5).

People trying to exist without the living Jesus Christ in their lives are missing the most practical and valuable asset available. God's help and backing can produce major physical, mental, financial and spiritual dividends.

People trying to exist without the living Jesus Christ in their lives are missing the most practical and valuable asset available.

I am not referring to blind faith without any personal effort. We need to actively work to overcome obstacles and trials with persistent effort. God expects us to do our part. He wants each of us to use and develop the mind and ability He has given us, and that requires firsthand experience. We need to work like the solution depends on us while relying on God to direct our paths (Psalm 32:8). This provides the added security and powerful backing only our Creator can provide. Active living faith produces effort and work (James 2:18-20). Someone once asked, "If you could hear God whispering to you, 'I am with you,' would you give up and quit?"

Yet there will be times when there is nothing we can do to solve a problem or overcome an obstacle. Often when circumstances are beyond our control, it is more difficult to persevere. But when we humbly wait on God and submit our will to His, we grow in faith and character. God may choose to simply work out circumstances to solve the problem, or He may allow the problem to persist to perfect our faith and increase our reliance on Him (2 Corinthians 12:8-10). Regardless, we must persevere to the end.