Excited about Poopy

We started potty “learning” this week and it has been a constant reminder that sometimes you just have to get excited about poopy! It’s a metaphor of sorts.

Maybe it’s just little stuff that is dragging you down, like missing the sunshine. Seasonal depression always looms around our house this time of year. Maybe you are sick and tired of being sick and tired. Maybe it is something bigger; a constant fear or loneliness. Maybe you are mourning a loss. Whatever it is that you may be going through, I’d like to share a verse that helps me:

James 1:2-4
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

I have read this verse many times but never have thought much about the word “perseverance.” Why was this word chosen? And, ultimately…why do we want to develop perseverance? I decided to look it up (source).

Perseverance (noun)
1. Steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement.

That’s what I thought it meant; nothing unexpected there. I looked at the synonyms on the thesaurus tab and there are many words listed that are very descriptive and appear appropriate substitutes. (I also learned a new word - - moxie - - but I don’t think I’ll ever use it because it just sounds dirty, doesn’t it? But you might want to just file that one mentally under “Words that you never use but come in handy when playing Scrabble/contain an X.”) I particularly like the ones in bold.

Backbone, constancy, continuance, cool, dedication, determination, doggedness, drive, endurance, grit, guts, immovability, indefatigability, moxie, persistence, pertinacity, pluck, prolonging, purposefulness, pursuance, resolution, sedulity, spunk, stamina, steadfastness, stick-to-itiveness, tenacity.

So what is different about “perseverance?” Looking even closer at the definition I see something more. I notice that it is the only one that also lists a theological definition.

Perseverance (noun)
2. Theology. Continuance in a state of grace to the end, leading to eternal salvation.


…that’s why.  And I think understanding that helps.  Do you agree?