Endurance and Perserverance

"we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;  and perseverance, character; and character hope" (Romans 5:3-4)

Put into easier terms by the English Standard Version (ESV) bible:

"we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope" (Romans 5:3-4)

This verse runs through my head when I am in the middle of a PHA circuit and I'm thinking to myself that I might just go a little easier on myself so that I can make it to the end of the session. What's the point of living within your pre determined constrictions venture out of the box and push yourself to new limits you may feel like you are going to be sick or you might even be sick but if you keep pushing yourself out of your limits your going to make outrageous gains in anything you do. Its the increased endurance that you get from this that will produce character inside of you. The stubbornness they used to have in the war, the relentlessness to die, the work ethic of come rain or shine. These are the type of people that others latch onto and look to in times of need to lead them out of the bad times and into the good the type of people that give you hope in bad situations. The type of person that is rare in modern day society.

In the same way we must go out of our comfort zone when it comes to God we cant just stay at one level of understanding, not learning any more. We must be constantly learning more and more becoming more like the people who memorised the whole bible and could repeat it. The bible says in James 1:25 that it's one of four habits that lead to a blessed life. Also if you push yourself in Christianity it can never be a bad thing as your effectively pushing yourself closer and closer to God, and its the same as going to the gym there will be times where you want to give up, but its the people that push through and give that little bit extra that will prevail in finding God as it says in jeremiah 29:13 "you will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."