Persevere, I said to myself. I’d pressed the foot pedal too hard and turned two pages instead of one on my iPad’s forScore app. Fumbling to find the correct place in the music, I played from memory, skipped what I couldn’t remember then caught up with the choir. To persevere: continue in a course of action even in the face of difficulty.

Persevere on Memorial Day

Before the service, I took this (above left) picture of the display in our church’s historic church, Trinity in Crimora, and after stood in the adjoining cemetery, listening to Pastor read the names of dearly departed who’d served in the armed forces. Memorial Day commemorates the lives of those who persevered in times of difficulty, some of whom sacrificed their lives. I thought about past Memorial Days and about Keith’s father my father-in-law, a fighter pilot in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. 

In biblical terms, persevere means steadfastness in faith and action, endurance in the face of trails, and trust in God’s promises. “The verb persevere appears 8 times in the Bible, perseverance 13 times.” Walter M. Dunnett

Persevere in the Old Testament

“In the Old Testament, persevere refers to confidence in or expectation of God’s power or faithfulness to deliver His people – in other words, waiting or hope. It can also refer to inward work and standing fast for the sake of God.” Walter M. Dunnett

Persevere in faith. I think about Job’s suffering, the Israelites in the Sinai during Exodus, the prophet Daniel in Babylon, the godly wife in Proverbs and the many virtuous people I’ve been and am honored to know. Those who exhibit valor, knowledge, self-control, kindness, love, and modesty. Adding virtue to faith requires God’s grace, inward work, and personal courage, especially in today’s over-exposed world.

Persevere in the New Testament

“New Testament references point to endurance, faith and hope – personally, sometimes actively in good works or passively enduring suffering.” Walter M. Dunnett

In his ministry as an apostle, Paul endured many hardships yet actively persisted, thanks to God who worked through him, the other apostles, and their many converts. They encouraged one another. John, in his letters to the churches in Revelation, assures believers that Christ knows of their perseverance, their steadfastness in the face of Roman persecution, often death. 

Those threats were external; responses are based on inward work. James wrote: 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. James 1:3-4 NIV  The writer of Hebrews makes clear the end-goal: His promise of eternal life. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. Hebrews 10:36 NIV

Persevere, do the work, find your place in the music, stand firm in faith and virtue, wait in hope.

Memorial Day, time to remember.

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