If you read through both the Old Testament and New Testament, you’ll find several Bible verses about perseverance. Why? Because, as Christians, perseverance is probably one of the most important character traits we can build.
Let’s face it: nothing in this faith walk comes easy. God often calls us to be obedient (and continue being obedient) long before we ever see the fruit of our labor.
But this is nothing new, right? Christians throughout history have been faced with situations that required perseverance. Moses comes to mind. Leading a group of wishy-washy Israelites and wandering around the wilderness for 40 years? No thanks.
And then there’s Noah. Talk about perseverance! I mean, who in the world would keep building a huge ship year after year (after year after year…) when there’s not even a hint of rain in the sky?
So perseverance isn’t a new concept, but Christians still struggle with it to this day. (Guilty!) What can we do? The answer is one that seems simple but is so important: get into God’s Word.
The Cliff Notes
As Christians, everything we do should reflect Jesus, and that includes persevering when times are hard.
There are lots of Bible verses about perseverance, including Galatians 6:9, 1 Corinthians 15:58, 2 Thessalonians 3:13, Philippians 3:12-14, 2 Timothy 4:10, Hebrews 10:36, and more.
If there’s something God’s called you to do, keep going. Until He calls you away from it, your job is just to be obedient.
Table of Contents
Bible Verses about Perseverance
Why Perseverance Matters for Christians
The Fried Chicken Story
Bible Verses about Perseverance
Galatians 6:9
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
Psalm 27:13-14
“I remain confident in this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”
Psalm 34:19
“The righteous person may have troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all.”
Proverbs 12:11
“Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies have no sense.”
Proverbs 12:24, 27
“Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor … The lazy do not roast any game, but the diligent feed on the riches of the hunt.”
Proverbs 16:3
“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.”
1 Corinthians 15:58
“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
2 Corinthians 4:16-17
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”
Ephesians 4:1
“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.”
Ephesians 6:7-8
“Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.”
Philippians 3:12-14
“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
2 Thessalonians 3:13
“And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.”
1 Timothy 4:10
“That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.”
2 Timothy 1:7
“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline.”
2 Timothy 4:7-8
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day — and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”
2 Timothy 4:18
“The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.”
Hebrews 10:36
“You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.”
Hebrews 12:1-3
“...And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
Hebrews 12:7, 11
“Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? … No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”
James 1:2-4
“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.”
James 4:17
“If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.”
1 Peter 4:10
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”
2 Peter 1:5-7
“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Why Perseverance Matters for Christians
The word "Christian" has historically (and metaphorically) been interpreted as “little Christ.” In other words, anyone who calls themselves a Christian is a follower of Jesus Christ. That means everything we do should reflect Him: His love, forgiveness, faithfulness, and, yes, perseverance.
Think about it. When Jesus was hanging on that awful cross, He could’ve easily gotten Himself down and healed all his wounds. In a split second. But He didn’t. Instead, He kept going, kept letting them beat and berate Him, kept dying.
He persevered. For us.
What’s more, giving up (the opposite of persevering) leads to despair and hopelessness more times than not. Nothing good comes from giving up on the things God has called us to. Whether you’re ready to throw in the towel on your marriage, your ministry, your kids, your health, or something else, stop and consider what that actually means.
Now, obviously, giving up because you’re tired or frustrated is not the same as putting something down when the Lord tells you to. The latter requires prayer and discernment. What I’m referring to here is quitting before God releases you.
Overall, perseverance comes down to obedience. God desires our heart more than anything else, but he also asks us to be obedient. Obedience isn’t just for His benefit; it’s also for ours. That’s not to say everything will be hunkydory when we obey the Lord, but being disobedient can often lead to more pain, frustration, and chaos than we would’ve otherwise experienced.
If you have kids, you know exactly what I mean. You tell your kiddos not to run with scissors, to brush their teeth, to buckle their seat belt. All those things are ways you expect obedience from your children. The effects of disobedience in these situations could be disastrous, even fatal.
And, lastly, it’s important for us to persevere in doing what the Lord asks of us because we never know what the future holds. God could have a blessing waiting right on the other side of our obedience! If we quit too soon, we (and others) might not get to experience that blessing.
The Fried Chicken Story
I can’t end this blog post without telling y’all about the fried chicken experience that inspired it to begin with.
Earlier this week, I got it in my head to attempt to fry chicken for the first time ever. And I’m talking about really pan-frying it the old-fashioned, Southern way. Have I cooked chicken a million times in lots of different ways? Yep. Have I ever actually fried it the way our mamas and grandmamas used to do? Nope.
But, for some reason, ever since I turned 40, I’ve had this strong desire to start making things from scratch for my family, and to learn all the recipes and cooking methods the women who came before me used.
So, I gathered my ingredients and got to work (with the help of my 15-year-old daughter). And, of course, frying chicken wasn’t enough for one night. I also decided I just had to make some mashed potatoes to go with it. I peeled; my daughter sliced. Everything was going fine.
Once the potatoes were ready, I started the process of prepping the chicken. Again, things were going well. I thought, “Wow, this isn’t so bad.”
And then came the actual frying. In the actual oil.
Most of you probably know this, but getting the exact right amount of oil and keeping it at the exact right temperature is not an easy task. Neither is being able to tell when the chicken under the (delicious) layer of golden-brown skin is fully cooked. Especially if your meat thermometer recently broke and you haven’t bought a new one.
I think you can probably see where this is going. Needless to say, the first few pieces didn’t turn out so great. The outside started to burn, but the inside was still pink.
And just like that, what began as a fun evening of cooking (and dancing) with my daughter in our little country kitchen turned into a frustrating, stressful experience. Y’all, I was mad. I almost cried.
Beyond ready to give up, I even said out loud, “I don’t know why I thought I could do this.” (Because, my dear friend, I am no cook.) Thankfully, my daughter, smart as she is, decided to hop in the shower at that very moment, so she didn’t have to see the worst of my temper tantrum.
Then I looked at the chicken left…still about 11 pieces of raw, floured chicken sitting in a pan on my counter, just waiting to be fried. I couldn’t bring myself to waste all that food, so I kept going.
And, you know what? After that first, nearly-burnt batch, I learned my lesson. I figured out how to keep the outside from burning while making sure the inside actually got done.
The end result? So good! My husband had three pieces, both my kids liked it, and my daughter even said it was better than the chicken from our favorite local place. Not too shabby for my first effort.
Keep on Keepin’ On!
Perseverance matters, friends. If I had given up on that fried chicken when I wanted to, my family would’ve probably just had mashed potatoes for supper, and I would’ve been super upset. I also wouldn’t have known what I was capable of.
So, I write all of this to encourage you. If there’s something God’s called you to do, or somewhere he has you, or maybe even some dream you’ve been trying to achieve…keep going. Until God calls you away from it, your job is just to be obedient. Let the Lord handle the rest.
You never know what He has in store for you right around the corner.
If you enjoyed this article, consider signing up for my free weekly devotionals…sent straight to your inbox every week! Click here to learn more.