Key scripture- “You know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness” (James 1:3, ESV).

Pastor, James McDonald, asks “If you could have anything you wanted in life, what would it be? What would make your life just perfect?”

People have been dreaming up answers to that question for centuries, and have either been doing their best to pursue it or bemoaning the fact that they missed it. But if they knew their Bible well enough, the answer to that question would be the same for all of us, because what would make our lives perfect would be “steadfastness” having“its full effect” (James 1:4).

Different versions of the Bible use a range of synonyms to try to capture the heart of this word used in James 1:3–4. Some call it “endurance” (nasb). Some call it “perseverance” (niv). Some call it “patience” (NKJV). The original Greek word–hupomeno–represents the most awesome thing God can give to a Christian. It’s everything you could ever want in life.

Hupomeno is a compound word made up of two parts: hupo (meaning “under”) and meno (meaning “remain”). It’s the idea of remaining under; staying put; not wiggling out of or running from the many pressure points in life.

Our lives are overrun with things that exert pressure. Our marriages can cause pressure, just as singleness can cause pressure. Managing work and family demands creates pressure, and the effects of aging add additional pressure. And when we are not strained enough by these routine forms of pressure, here come those extraordinarily unpredictable forms of pressure, like health problems, children in trouble, car trouble, and those seemingly random weeks when a string of household appliances goes out, one right after the other.

The greater the pressure is, the more you’ll wish for any way to get out from under it by running away, quitting, bailing out, or just giving up. But getting out from under is not really what you want . . . because hupomeno is the funnel through which all Christian virtue flows. Every good thing that God wants to infuse into your life comes through growing your ability to “remain under” the pressure.

Instead of thinking that you can’t stick it anymore in the trial that you are going through, that it is to much and you just can’t handle it, stay with it and don’t give up and you will experience what only hupomeno can produce in your life which is; the best thing that God wants to give you, to make you perfect and complete lacking in nothing. That is why James tells us, “Let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:4).

Now there is not nearly as much scholarly debate on what the word for “perfect”means. Everyone agrees that it means “perfect”, and it leads toward being “complete” so that when someone asks what you need, you can honestly tell them, “Nothing.” When others are complaining about what’s missing in their lives, you already know you’ve got everything that matters. God has given you the ability to remain steady when under pressure, to remain confident in faith, in Him, and nothing can stop somebody like that.

The worst decisions you’ll ever make in life are quitter decisions. (I should know; I’ve made my share.) Your best decisions, however, will be the ones God enabled you to make, where you stayed bolted in place when the trials are pressing down on you the hardest, when the wind and waves are at a Hurricane 5 force, and you refuse to give up any ground or walk away, because you know that God intends for your trials to transform your conduct and character. And when you persevere . . . when you endure . . . when you grind out with patience what’s required in handling those moments maturely . . . you’ll come away with the greatest thing in the world. “Steadfastness.”

And trust me, it will be “perfect.”

I want you to think back and compare any decisions you’ve made to quit with those times when you endured day after day and what the results were based on each decision.

Ask God to show you what “steadfastness” will look like in your life today and in the coming week.

Pray this – Our Precious Heavenly Father, thank You for wanting me to be complete, so that I lack for nothing. Thank You for creating and allowing those environments and trials in my life where You can perform this level of work in my heart. This is what You’ve made me for–to bring you glory by what You alone can produce in my weak, fragile, sinful self. Holy Spirit lead me to surrender my desire for comfort and relief so that I can stand strong and stand firm in The Lord. I will not let anything move me. I will always give myself fully to the work of the Lord, because I know that any labor in the Lord is never in vain. I will have no fear of bad news, because my heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. In the end I will always look in triumph on my foes. Father, You keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. (Isaiah 26:3). I will call upon the Lord, and only the Lord. Father, make me “perfect and complete, lacking in nothing,” through the Steadfast Name of Jesus, I pray, Amen.