My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
— James 1:2-4

In the earliest years of the Church, the believers faced unremitting persecution. Every day they were confronted by hostile powers that were arrayed against them. Culture, pagan religion, government, unsaved family and friends — all these forces were arrayed against them, putting constant pressure on them to forfeit their faith and return to their old ways.

Even if you are facing great challenges today, it doesn’t begin to match the pressure these brothers and sisters felt. I don’t want to make light of the struggles you’re going through, but the truth is, very few people alive today have faced the level of intense opposition that these early believers faced.

Think about it — do you personally know anyone who has been thrown into the arena to be mauled and eaten by hungry lions? Do you know anyone who has been burned at the stake for his faith? Or can you think of any friends of yours who have been forced into imprisonment because of their faith in Jesus Christ?

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Now, these scenarios do happen today to believers who live in anti-Christian parts of the world, and we definitely need to hold them up in prayer. Let’s not forget about them, nor about those who suffer for the Gospel in countries that are blessed with freedom. It is a statistical fact that since the year 1900, more than 29 million believers have died worldwide for their faith in Jesus Christ. In fact, large numbers of people currently die for Jesus every single day. By the time we get up, get dressed, and arrive at work to clock in for the day, someone, somewhere, has already laid down his life for the Gospel.

This puts a different light on the problems we face in the free world. Our problems are related to relationships, finances, family issues, health issues, and other problems of a personal nature. The stress that believers experience in free parts of the world is often related to having too much work to do; being under pressure due to the intense nature of their jobs; or trying to figure out how to handle their busy schedules. Although no one in his or her neighborhood or local church is currently being fed to hungry lions, the stresses and pressures a believer feels can nonetheless be very severe.

So no matter where you live or what you’re facing, remember that it’s essential to have the right attitude toward high-pressure situations! The Early Church called “patience” the “queen of all virtues.” They believed that if they possessed this one virtue, they could survive anything that ever came against them. It is this same virtue that is sustaining believers today who live in godless regions of the world — and this virtue is exactly what you need to victoriously outlast the pressures and ordeals you may be dealing with today.

James was writing to believers who were undergoing the kind of hardships described above. He told them, “But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”

The word “patience” is the Greek word hupomeno — a compound of the words hupo and meno. The word hupo means under, as to be underneath something. The word meno means to stay or to abide. You could say that the word meno means to remain in one’s spot; to keep a position; to resolve to maintain some territory that has been gained. It is the state of mind that says, “This is my spot, and I’m not moving!”

The determination inherent within the word hupomeno is clearly seen when it was used in a military sense to picture soldiers who were ordered to maintain their positions even in the face of fierce combat. Their order was to stand their ground and defend what had been gained. To keep that ground, they had to be courageous to do whatever was required — no matter how hard or difficult the assignment. Their goal was to see that they survived every attack and held their position until they had outlived and outlasted the resistance. These soldiers had to indefinitely and defiantly stick it out until the enemy realized they couldn’t be beaten and decided to retreat and go elsewhere.

Thus, the word hupomeno conveys the idea of being steadfast, consistent, unwavering, and unflinching. It is the attitude that declares, “I don’t care how heavy the load gets or how much pressure I’m under, I am not budging one inch! This is my spot, and I’m telling you right now that there isn’t enough pressure in the whole world to make me move and give it up!”

Although the King James Version translates this word “patience,” a more accurate rendering would be endurance. One scholar calls it staying power, whereas another contemporary translator calls it hang-in-there power. Both of these translations adequately express the right idea about hupomeno. This is an attitude that never gives up! It holds out, holds on, outlasts, and perseveres.

Revelation 1:9 uses the word hupomeno when it refers to “the patience of Jesus Christ.” In Second Thessalonians 3:5, this word is also used in the phrase, “the patient waiting for Christ,” which could be translated, “…The patience of Jesus Christ — that attitude that hangs in there, never giving up, refusing to surrender to obstacles, and turning down every opportunity to quit.” This word illustrates the patient endurance Jesus demonstrated during His trial, scourging, and crucifixion. Even though the assignment was the most difficult task ever given to anyone, Jesus stayed with it all the way to the end.

Keeping all this in mind, James 1:4 could be interpreted:

“But let patience have her perfect work — I’m talking about the kind of attitude that hangs in there, never giving up, refusing to surrender to obstacles and turning down every opportunity to quit….”

The Early Church called patience the “queen of all virtues” for good reason. They knew that as long as they had this character quality working in their lives, it wasn’t a question of if they would win their battles — it was only a question of when they would win their battles.

Hupomeno — that is, endurance, staying power, hang-in-there power — is one of the major weapons you need to outlast any difficulty or time of stress and pressure that comes your way. So if you’re going through some rough circumstances at the moment, be encouraged! It’s a fleeting and temporary condition that will soon change! It’s time for you to get your eyes off your challenges and to stop fixating on your problems. Make up your mind that you’re going to stand your ground and hang in there. It won’t be long until the problems flee — and when they do, you’ll be so glad you didn’t give up!

My Prayer for Today

Lord, help me stand my ground and defend what I have gained, no matter how difficult it might be to do this. I know that with Your supernatural help, I can outlive and outlast the resistance. With Your Spirit’s power working inside me, I know I can indefinitely and defiantly stick it out until the enemy realizes he cannot beat me and decides to retreat.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

My Confession for Today

I confess that I am steadfast, consistent, unwavering, and unflinching. I don’t care how heavy the load gets or how much pressure I’m under, I am not budging one inch! This is my spot, and there isn’t enough pressure in the whole world to make me move and give it up! I have supernatural endurance — staying power, hang-in-there power — and an attitude that holds out, holds on, outlasts, and perseveres until the victory is won and the goal is reached!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

Questions to Answer

1. What is the biggest difficulty and pressure you are facing in your life right now?

2. Have you determined to stay put, never giving up and never budging, until the devil gives up on his attack to defeat you?

3. Can you recall some difficulties in the past where you stood your ground and refused to give up until the victory came? How did you do it?