We Are Going to Need Perseverance if We Are Going to Succeed in Accomplishing God’s Perfect Will for Our Lives — Part 1

The View From Above: Thoughts To Help With Everyday Life

September 16, 2026

Pastor Paul Stephens

We Are Going to Need Perseverance if We Are Going to Succeed in Accomplishing God’s Perfect Will for Our Lives — Part 1

Sometimes we have to make the choice:

QUIT or ENDURE AND CONTINUE!

We may have a vision to accomplish something, but that is only the beginning. The substance has not yet been realized. We have not yet arrived.

VISION WILL ALWAYS BE TESTED ON ITS WAY TO REALIZATION.

Difficulty, hardship, and the uphill climb are the perfect test!

It is God’s way of exposing what we value, putting it in the forefront.

Sometimes we fail; we all experience disappointments along the way, we experience trauma, and sometimes tragedy…the difficulties we face reveal what we care about, how deeply rooted our faith really is, and how centered we are on accomplishing something God gave us to do in His purposes for our life.

Difficulty refines our trust in God and proves our commitment to the task.

The power of difficulty is found in the opportunity it gives us to practice determination and learn perseverance and then discovering God’s intervening hand in helping us when we are desperate and when we need Him the most.

Joseph in the book of Genesis had dreams that one day he would rule over his brethren…who would have thought that it would be a 13-year ordeal of being sold into slavery, falsely accused, and then upwards of 10 years in prison, before release and the beginning of the fulfillment of his dream.

That’s a lot of enduring and learning to trust God and continuing to believe in His goodness.

What trouble might you be facing right now?

Where is your struggle located?…perhaps there’s a huge obstacle between you and the fulfilling of your dreams, hopes, and aspirations…

Quit?…or Endure.

That is what you have to decide.

Galatians 6:9

“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”

There is no virtue in losing heart and quitting…there is God-given strength and power when you choose to advance in the face of difficulty.

Jesus’ march to the cross was no light task.

He was a man, though God in the flesh…He suffered, felt all the pain that anyone would under those circumstances.

For Jesus it was to endure, never quit.

There is too much at stake.

Matthew 26:39

“Jesus went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, ‘O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.’”

There it is!

Never quit…even when facing your cross, always endure and continue until the will of God is complete.

He did, and here we are the beneficiaries of Jesus’ willingness to endure and continue to do God’s will.

If you choose to continue, you will arrive at the mountaintop…but that is going to require perseverance.

There’s nothing wrong in praying, crying out to God:

“Lord, I’m struggling, everything in me wants to quit…but I can’t quit, I won’t quit…please help me to endure, persevere and continue my climb to the mountaintop.”

You’re going to immediately feel better praying such a prayer, that is what is pleasing to God…and see if He doesn’t immediately strengthen you, encourage you and help you.

Isaiah 41:10

“Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”