Life has a way of testing our faith. A recent survey of 15,000 Christians revealed that 95% admitted to stalling at some point in their Christian walk, often during difficult seasons. These are the moments when we question God's presence, wonder if He knows our name, or doubt if He's still moving in our generation.

Perseverance is more than just hanging on—it's being steadfast, constant, patient, and having endurance no matter what circumstances we face. It's considered a key attribute of Christian maturity, distinguishing those who merely attend church from those who truly follow Jesus Christ.

The difference between believers who thrive and those who fall away often comes down to where they fix their eyes during trials. Those who focus on what they lack or on difficult circumstances tend to pull back from faith. But those who recognize Christ as their anchor in the storm become sources of strength for others.

In 2 Corinthians 13:5, we're told to "examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith." This doesn't mean questioning our salvation during difficulties. Rather, it's about examining whether we're responding from a place of faith—praying with expectation, standing together in faith, and declaring God's goodness over one another.

James 1:2-4 offers a radical perspective: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

One of the most unusual stories in Scripture involves Jacob wrestling with a heavenly messenger until daybreak (Genesis 32:22-32). Initially fighting for survival, Jacob eventually realized he was wrestling with someone who had the power to bless him. His response? "I will not let you go unless you bless me."

This wrestling match represents God's process of bringing out our true calling and identity. God wrestles with each of us until He develops the character within us that He intended from birth. Jacob's tenacious perseverance resulted in a new identity—he was renamed Israel, meaning "prince of God."

Jesus taught us to "ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you" (Matthew 7:7-8). The Greek meaning implies continuous action—keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking. This isn't about demanding material blessings, but about persistently pursuing God's kingdom purposes.

The key is seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, trusting that He will add everything else we need. Our prayers should move beyond "bless me, Lord" to "use me, God, to bless others."

Scripture provides powerful examples of long-term perseverance:

• Abraham waited 25 years for the promised son Isaac
• Joseph's dreams took 22 years to be fulfilled
• Moses persevered by seeing "him who is invisible"

The Bible warns us not to end in the flesh what God began in the Spirit. When God starts something spiritual in our lives—perhaps through a grandparent's prayers or a divine encounter—we must persevere until we see its fulfillment.

Research on biblical and historical figures reveals that only one in three people finish well in life. Seven common barriers prevent people from ending strong:

• Financial issues and their abuse
• Power and its abuse
• Pride
• Illicit relationships
• Family issues
• Plateauing (relying on our own strength instead of God's Spirit)
• Various other personal struggles

Hebrews 12:1-2 provides the blueprint: "Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith."

The key is keeping our eyes on Jesus, not on our circumstances. When we lose focus on the prize, we lose our direction. Like Moses, we must learn to see "him who is invisible" in everything we do.

Self-control, a fruit of the Spirit, is integral to perseverance. It's the ability to exercise constraint over our feelings, emotions, and thoughts to achieve long-term goals. Self-control becomes the dividing line between mediocrity and excellence in our spiritual lives.

Joseph exemplified this principle, eventually declaring that what the enemy meant for harm, God turned for good. Each time the enemy tries to defeat us, God can turn it around for our benefit when we persevere with self-control.

The Bible declares that "a righteous person falls seven times, but gets back up" (Proverbs 24:16). Even John Wesley, who preached over 40,000 sermons and founded the Methodist movement, faced constant rejection. His diary shows Sunday after Sunday of being kicked out of churches, only to eventually preach to 10,000 people in a pasture.

Winston Churchill's famous words during World War II capture the essence of godly perseverance: "Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never. In nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in."

We can persevere because we already know the end of the story—we have the victory. We're stamped with God's victory and heading somewhere glorious. Tough times never last, but tough people do.

This week, identify one area where you've been tempted to give up or where you've been focusing on circumstances rather than on Christ. Instead of asking God to simply bless you, ask Him how He wants to use you to bless others in that very situation.

Like Jacob, be willing to wrestle with God until you receive His blessing and discover your true identity as His child. Remember that perseverance isn't just about enduring—it's about bearing good fruit while you wait.