Power of Persistence

Persistence is displayed when you refuse to take no for an answer.

Persistence is when you continue to keep on pressing on irrespective of obstacles along your way.

As painful as it may be, I have watched many Christians compromise their faith on several occasions and I can tell you it was never a good experience. At one point or the other in the journey of faith, a man may come to his elastic limit in terms of persistence. But, God does not tolerate compromise, He only rewards persistence. 

Hebrew 10:38, "Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him".

Drawing back or compromising is a no-no as far as God is concerned and He is not pleased in such an individual who finds it difficult to persist in faith. 

In Numbers 14:21-35, while in the wilderness, the children of Israel attempted to turn and go back to Egypt on several occasions. They compromised and started blaming Moses for the challenges they encountered in the wilderness.  But, they could not go back because Pharaoh and his chariots were strongly pursuing them. However, as many whose hearts had already compromised could not get to the promised land, they ended their lives in the wilderness for God only rewards persistence, He does not tolerate compromise. 

In our bid to possess our godly heritage, persistence is a virtue that can not be overemphasized. 

Mark 10:46-49, Blind Bartimaeus was utterly discouraged on the day of his visitation,  a lot of people around him have completely written him off and when he began to cry for help, they tried as much as possible to shut him down. But, the Bible says he cried the more a great deal. He persistently followed and cried out until Jesus gave him the needed attention. Yes, it is natural for people to write you off in their own imaginations. However, it is unforgiving to allow what people say or think about you to influence your self-esteem.

Are you currently at any point of contemplating your persistence in faith? Are you on the verge of bowing to people's ridiculous opinions about your religiosity? Perhaps the time you have spent praying about that predicament is yet to pay off. Notwithstanding, it is not enough to throw in the towel now, just push a little more. It does not matter how long it tarries, your expectations will soon become a testimony. 

Gehazi compromised his calling when he decided to collect what was rejected by Elisha, and as mentioned earlier, God rejected him and he ended up a leper. However, what helped Elisha to be a successful prophet that succeeded Elijah even with a double portion of anointing is persistence. The whole excess of Elisha's discipleship with Elijah was to take over and continue from wherever Elijah stops. This was almost lost but for the persistence and commitment of Elisha to his calling.

In 2 Kings 2:1-18, Elijah on several occasions tried to leave Elisha behind without handing over the mantle, but Elisha was persistent enough to follow him everywhere he went till he was able to get what he wanted.

Things might not really happen according to your timing and plans, Ecclesiastes 3:11 says He has made all things beautiful in His time. Isaiah 5:8 says God's thoughts are not our thoughts, neither His ways our ways. All we need to do is to keep on persisting in our prayers, services and obedience to the word of God. Never give up, just keep on pushing, in no distant time, it shall be your time to testify.