Perseverance
Pastoral Messages by Matriarch Elnette Edwards
Beloved family,
I want to talk to you about perseverance—not the glamorous kind that wins championships or makes headlines, but the quiet, unglamorous kind that shows up day after day, year after year, doing what's right even when no one's watching and success seems far away.
Perseverance is what keeps the mother up at night praying for a prodigal child year after year. It's what keeps the faithful husband loving his wife through sickness and health. It's what keeps the servant showing up to serve in ministry when there's no recognition or reward. It's what keeps you believing God's promises when circumstances say they'll never come to pass.
I've been in ministry for over forty years, and let me tell you—the glamorous moments make up maybe five percent of the journey. The other ninety-five percent is showing up when you don't feel like it, loving people who hurt you, preaching to empty pews, praying when heaven seems silent, and continuing to believe when doubt whispers that you're wasting your time.
There were years—many years—when I wanted to quit. When I felt unappreciated, misunderstood, exhausted, and ineffective. When I watched other ministries grow while ours stayed small. When I questioned whether I'd heard God correctly about my calling. But each time I wanted to quit, the Lord would send just enough encouragement to keep me going—a testimony of someone whose life was changed, a word of appreciation from an unexpected source, or simply His quiet whisper: "Well done, my good and faithful servant. Keep going."
Perseverance isn't about being strong enough never to struggle. It's about getting back up every time you fall. It's about continuing when you're tired. It's about faithfulness in the mundane. Someone once said that perseverance is "a long obedience in the same direction," and that describes it perfectly.
The Bible is filled with examples of perseverance: Noah building an ark for decades while his neighbors mocked him. Abraham waiting twenty-five years for the promised son. Moses leading difficult people through the wilderness for forty years. Job maintaining his integrity despite losing everything. Jesus enduring the cross for the joy set before Him.
Their perseverance wasn't fueled by constant feelings of inspiration or success. It was fueled by something deeper—faith in God's faithfulness, hope in His promises, and love for His purposes. They kept going because they believed that their labor was not in vain, that God sees and rewards faithfulness, and that the end would be worth the journey.
If you're tempted to quit today—whether it's a marriage, a ministry, a calling, or a commitment—I'm urging you to hold on. Don't make permanent decisions based on temporary emotions. The breakthrough you've been praying for might be just around the corner. The harvest you've been sowing for might be ready to reap. The promise God gave you might be about to manifest.
Persevere, beloved. Your faithfulness matters. Your continued obedience is building something beautiful that you may not fully see in this lifetime. But one day, you'll stand before Him and hear those words that make it all worthwhile: "Well done, good and faithful servant."
Persevering with you,
Matriarch Elnette Edwards
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