Living with Faith and Perseverance: 10 Steps to Steady Progress

One of the hardest things about living with a chronic illness is realizing your suffering is never going to end. That you will always struggle with this debilitating health condition.  

While you will have good days and bad days . . . it will never completely go away. 

And that can be quite disheartening.  

But God doesn’t want us to stay in this place. He wants to show us a way to hold onto hope even while dealing with a health issue that won’t let go. 

Because as we lean on Him . . . He gives us the strength to persevere. To keep fighting the good fight. And to continue clinging to our faith.  

Even while facing an illness that will never go away.   

What is the relationship between faith and perseverance?

Faith is the complete trust or confidence in someone or something. It can also mean faith in another’s ability or belief that is not based on proof. 

Perseverance means to put forth a continued effort to do or achieve something even in the face of difficulties, failure, or opposition. Other words for perseverance are persistence, tenacity, steadfastness, or grit. 

A simple way to think of it is this: 

Perseverance is steady persistence in a course of action or purpose even in the face of difficulty.  

Remember, the beloved story of the tortoise and the hare?  

Well, the tortoise won the race because he didn’t quit. He just kept putting one foot in front of the other.  

And his steady persistence paid off in the end. 

Faithfulness and perseverance go hand in hand.

Because it is our faith in God that fuels our ability to persevere. To keep going even when life is difficult or when we are in a hard season that seems to last forever.  

We can learn perseverance with God when we choose to throw ourselves with total abandon upon Him because we are fully confident in the truth that no matter what happens . . . He is good. He loves us. And He is for us.  

What is an example of perseverance in the Bible?

We can see a clear example of faith and perseverance in the biblical story of Joseph. Joseph is a great example of how through hard work, perseverance, and faith in God even the worst things in our life can be used by God for good. (Genesis 50:20) 

• He was sold into slavery by his own brothers. (Genesis 37:25-28) 
• He was falsely accused by his master’s wife. (Genesis 39) 
• He was forgotten by the chief wine taster. Even after Joseph helped him get out of jail. (Genesis 40) 

Despite years and years of suffering, Joseph still had faith in God. He persevered and continued to work hard and live with integrity no matter where he was.  

And because He did so God was able to use him to save many lives.  

How does God want us to persevere?

It is our faith, obedience, and perseverance in pursuing Christ that produces fruit in our lives.

When we pursue godly living and believe the truth of God’s Word, we show we are true children of God.  

It is also how we shine the light of Jesus in this dark and broken world.  

People see how we endure and don’t lose hope even when facing difficulties that last a long time such as a chronic illness or another debilitating health condition. And they begin to wonder about the hope we have.  

Which then gives us the opportunity to tell them about Jesus. 

The following 15 steps to steady progress are practical ways we can develop and grow in the areas of faith and perseverance. 

• 1) Seek God and trust Him to guide you.
• 2) Discipline yourself and live with integrity.
• 3) Remember God’s promises.
• 4) Ponder the end goal.
• 5) Fix your eyes on Jesus.
• 6) Be confident in who you are in Christ.
• 7) Focus on your own goals.
• 8) Celebrate how far you have come.
• 9) Surround yourself with other believers.
• 10) Look for the blessing.

1) Seek God and trust Him to guide you.

Every day read God’s Word and then spend time in prayer and worship. Learn how to walk with Him even in the mundane moments of life. 

“And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.”

-Romans 15:4b NLT

As we get to know Him and draw near to Him, our faith in Him grows . . . which fuels our perseverance. 

We can also ask the Holy Spirit to help us grow in our faith and perseverance. To help us listen and obey when we hear Him speak.

And to help us trust Him as He guides us on this journey.

“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’”

-Isaiah 30:21 NIV

2) Discipline yourself and live with integrity.

Athletes know they can’t live the way everyone else lives. They must eat certain foods and avoid others. They must spend hours training. And do all they can to grow. 

In the same way, Christians should not be living the way everyone else lives. We have to be careful what we consume. What we watch and read. What we spend our free time doing.  

We should avoid anything that could hinder our walk with Christ. And strive to live with integrity. 

Integrity is doing the right thing even when no one is watching. And as Christians, we know Someone is always watching. 

Knowing God sees all and will reward us someday in Heaven for the way we lived on Earth motivates us to live with integrity.

“Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.”

-1 Corinthians 9:24-25 NLT

3) Remember God’s promises.

When life is hard and we feel like giving up, we can find the faith and perseverance we need as we reflect on the many promises God has made to us.

His promises remind us that it will all be worth it in the end.  

“For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory.”

-2 Corinthians 1:20 NLT

4) Ponder the end goal.

Faith, hope, and perseverance will be the fuel that helps us keep going until the very end. When we finally get to enter Heaven and meet Him.    

So, take time to ponder the end goal. Think about the prize you are fighting for. Dream about what Heaven will be like.

Thinking about the amazing future awaiting us helps us endure this life.  

So, hold unswervingly onto your hope in Christ! 

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.”

-Hebrews 10:23 ESV

5) Fix your eyes on Jesus.

Consider Jesus so you won’t grow weary.

Think about what He did for you. All that He endured . . . because He loved you.

Taking our eyes off our circumstances and fixing them on Jesus, helps us remember what really matters.

And keep in mind, that persevering through our struggles makes us more like Jesus. Which is pretty inspiring.  

“Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

-Hebrews 12:2 ESV

6) Be confident in who you are in Christ.

We can have confidence as children of God because of Jesus’s sacrifice for us.  

And we can find the faith and perseverance we need when we remember nothing can separate us from God’s love . . . so no matter what happens we will be okay. 

“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

-Romans 8:38-39 NLT

7) Focus on your own goals.

As humans, we often tend to try and compare ourselves with other Christians. But this only ends up discouraging us.  

Don’t worry about what other people are doing. How many places they serve in the church, how many ministries they run, how well-behaved their children seem, or how strong their faith appears.

We really have no idea what is going on behind closed doors or what is inside other people’s hearts.

So, stop comparing yourself to other Christians.

Persevere and run YOUR faith race.  

Keep putting one foot in front of the other and steadily pursue the goals God has given you.   

“Jesus replied, ‘If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me.’”

-John 21:22 NLT

8) Celebrate how far you have come.

Sometimes, it can be discouraging when we think about how far we have to go. How unlike Jesus we still are. How often we still sin and make a mess of things. 

Instead of only thinking about how far you have to go . . . why not think about how far you have come? 

You once were lost in darkness. Now, you are living in the light!!!

You may still be a work in progress . . . but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t celebrate all God has already done in your life.  

And doing so will give you the encouragement you need to keep persevering.  

“And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” -1 Corinthians 6:11 NIV 

-1 Corinthians 6:11 NIV

9) Surround yourself with other believers.

Keep meeting together with other believers. We can encourage each other in the hard things we are going through. We can remind each other of what God has promised.  

And we can spur one another on to keep living for Christ.   

We can also learn from other Christians who have stood firm in their faith even in the face of great persecution.

Their stories inspire us to keep going. To let go of this life and stay focused on Christ.  

Knowing our lives really are making a difference.  Often in ways we have yet to see. 

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

-Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV

10) Look for the blessing.

God can use ALL the things we go through for our ultimate good. (Romans 8:28)

Even things like depression, chronic illness, grief, or financial struggles. He can use every, single one of our hard times to draw us closer to Him, and inspire us to move forward with His purpose for our lives.  

As we steadily persist in following Christ, we will find we are blessed in the very act of persevering in our faith.

And the more we persevere, the more gifts of blessings God grants us. Which in turn helps us to strive even more.  

It is a glorious cycle of perseverance in the faith and blessings from God.  

“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”

-James 1:12 ESV

Persevere in faith meaning.

To persevere in our faith, we need to remember that perseverance is more than just endurance. More than just desperately holding on until the end.

It’s more about moving through rather than just standing strong.   

It is not weak. But rather strong and robust.  

Through faith and perseverance, we can learn how to confidently stand on the truth that God is love . . . so anything He allows in our life will work out for our ultimate good.  

We can face anything because Jesus is our everything!

If you found this encouraging, then please share!

Be sure to check these out, too!

• How to Have Faith in God . . . Even When Life is Hard
• Why Won’t God Heal Me? 3 Things to Consider
• Coping with Chronic Illness: 7 Ways to Thrive
• 15 Helpful Tips: How to Stay Positive in Difficult Times