Introduction
   We are children in the sight of Yahweh. He cares for us, loves us, and will wipe away every tear. Because of this, there is promised protection and guidance.
   But now, thus says Yahweh, your Creator, “O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you, Isaiah 43:1-2. (The New American Standard Bible used throughout, unless otherwise noted.)

Perseverance through Testing
   Protection, guidance, and help. This is the expectation of obedient children if they are pleasing Yahweh. As a reminder, the blessings and curses are made clear in Leviticus, chapter 26, and Deuteronomy, chapter 28.
   Because you have kept the Word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, [that] hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth, Revelation 3:10.
   But what is the Word of His perseverance, or steadfastness? The United Bible Society suggests the phrase, “have kept the word of My perseverance,” is essentially saying, “have followed My teaching” or “have obeyed My commands.” The Philadelphia Assembly is acclaimed and noteworthy for keeping His Word (i.e., teachings and commands).
   And of testing? We know Yahweh tests us, just as He had with His people, Israel.
   You shall remember all the way which Yahweh your Elohim has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His Commandments or not, Deuteronomy 8:2.
   And, as He had with his prophets:
   As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the Name of Yahweh. We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of Yahweh’s dealings, that Yahweh is full of compassion and [is] merciful, James 5:10-11.
   Yahweh is full of compassion and is merciful toward us, as well. None of us can say we experienced what Job endured. Yet, despite what he went through, he maintained his good character. He said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there. Yahweh gave and Yahweh has taken away. Blessed be the Name of Yahweh.” Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame Elohim, Job 1:21-22.
   Neither has anyone experienced such a contradiction of sinners against oneself as Yahshua, Who suffered even to the shedding of His blood (Heb. 12:3).
   Their attitudes and perseverance were recorded as an example to us (1 Cor. 10:11). Tribulation, trial, testing is common to all men. However, we have the promise He will not allow us to experience more than what we can handle but will, with tribulation, trial, and testing, make a way of escape that we might endure them (1 Cor. 10:13).
   Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but Yahweh is faithful to deliver one out of them all (Psa. 34:19). Tests of our faith don’t make character. Tests of our faith reveal character. Therefore, there is cause to persevere in tribulation, rejoicing in the hope of deliverance (Rom. 12:12). With a lifetime of experiencing trouble, the Psalmist – probably, King David – penned this tribute to Yahweh:
   O Elohim, You have taught me from my youth, and I still declare Your wondrous deeds. And even when [I am] old and gray, O Elohim, do not forsake me, until I declare Your strength to [this] generation, Your power to all who are to come. For Your righteousness, O Elohim, [reaches] to the heavens, You who have done great things; O Elohim, who is like You? You who have shown me many troubles and distresses will revive me again, and will bring me up again from the depths of the earth. May You increase my greatness and turn [to] comfort me. I will also praise You with a harp, [even] Your Truth, O my Elohim; to You I will sing praises with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel. My lips will shout for joy when I sing praises to You; and my soul, which You have redeemed, Psalm 71:17-23.
   I have trusted in Your lovingkindness; my heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. I will sing to Yahweh, because He has dealt bountifully with me, Psalm 13:5-6.
   Yes, He has. He has with us, too. May rejoicing in His salvation become our attitude, as well.

Having a Right Attitude
   For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in Elohim who raises the dead; who delivered us from so great a [peril of] death, and will deliver [us], He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us, you also joining in helping us through your prayers, so that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the favor bestowed on us through [the prayers] of many, 2 Corinthians 1:8-11.
   But in everything commending ourselves as servants of Elohim, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger, in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love, in the word of truth, in the power of Elohim; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left, by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; [regarded] as deceivers and yet true; as unknown yet well-known, as dying yet behold, we live; as punished yet not put to death, as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing all things, 2 Corinthians 6:4-10.
   At times, what we go through is like the Apostle Paul describes here – he and his company, and well might he have spoken for the other apostles: “burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life.”
   But note his confidence. He said, “that we would not trust in ourselves, but in Elohim who raises the dead; who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us.” Note also his acknowledgment of the brethren’s prayers and his gratitude, first and foremost, to Yahweh.

It’s NOT About the Money
    Though poor of the wealth of this world, they were, and we are, rich through the promise of the inheritance of the Kingdom in Messiah Yahshua.
   It’s much more important now, that through tribulation, trial and testing, our character be proven acceptable in Yahweh’s sight. And so, we face difficulties preparing ourselves to ultimately reign with Yahshua in the Kingdom.
   For all things [are] for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of Elohim. Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal, 2 Corinthians 4:15-18
   Knowing that some better and enduring substance is being prepared for us, we understand the reason for and adjust our attitude toward tribulation, trial, and testing. And so, whatever our circumstances, we need to be thankful.
   For in time past, they were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated ([men] of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground. And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, Hebrews 11:37-39.
   “… did not receive what was promised,” yet – but they will. At this time, they are at peace, sleeping, awaiting the resurrection.

Enduring Without Sin
   For you have been called for this purpose, since Messiah also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept Himself to Him who judges righteously; and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the stake, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls, 1 Peter 2:21-25.
   Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, to the assembly of the Thessalonians in Elohim our Father and the Master Yahshua Messiah: Grace to you and peace from Elohim the Father and the Master Yahshua Messiah. We ought always to give thanks to Elohim for you, brethren, as is [only] fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows [ever] greater; therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the assemblies of Elohim for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure. [This] is a plain indication of Elohim’s righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of Elohim, for which indeed you are suffering, 2 Thessalonians 1:1-5.
   Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Yahshua, the Author and Perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the stake, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of Elohim. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin, Hebrews 12:1-4.
   Contextually, these passages are, (1) speaking of Yahshua’s, and of the Assembly at Thessaly’s, example to us of patiently, and without sin, enduring wrongful and unjust persecution; (2) exhorting us to consider and embrace His example, and reminding us that we have not experienced anything like what Yahshua experienced ~ resisting unto blood in striving lawfully in the face of others’ sins against us; and (3) enduring wrongful and unjust persecution without becoming weary in well doing and losing heart is easier accomplished when we have first put away the sin in our lives.

Continue in Faith
   Strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and [saying], “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of Elohim,” Acts 14:22.
   The purpose of this article is to encourage us to continue in the faith. Looking toward the life to come, will, indeed, help us.
   So, “let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Yahshua, the Author and Perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured …” (Heb. 12:1, 2). For just as the sufferings of Messiah are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Messiah. But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer, 2 Corinthians 1:5-6.
   We are comforted in our affliction because we are not alone. “… the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world” (1 Pet. 5:9). We have each other, but more importantly, we have the Spirit of Yahweh and Messiah, with us.

Unity in Spirit
   Now may the Elohim who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Messiah Yahshua, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify Elohim and Father of our Master Yahshua Messiah, Romans 15:5-6.
   Unity in Spirit is what we seek to apprehend and attain; sanctified, to walk on higher ground and along the way, to have a thankful attitude. Such was David’s attitude:
   Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of Yahweh forever, Psalm 23:4-6.
   And such was Yahweh’s promise to them for whom the Kingdom and eternity is reserved:
   They will not hunger or thirst, nor will the scorching heat or sun strike them down; for He who has compassion on them will lead them and will guide them to springs of water. I will make all My mountains a road, and My highways will be raised up. Behold, these will come from afar; and lo, [these will] come from the north and from the west, and these from the land of Sinim. Shout for joy, O heavens! And rejoice, O earth! Break forth into joyful shouting, O mountains! For Yahweh has comforted His people and will have compassion on His afflicted, Isaiah 49:10-13.

His Promises are Sure
   The author of Hebrews tells us that to Abraham, Yahweh had affirmed a promise to multiply his seed. The author then gives us, as “the heirs of the promise,” assurance of hope – by Yahweh’s oath, sworn by no greater than Himself – and appropriated by Yahshua’s mediation for us.
   For men swear by one greater [than themselves], and with them an oath [given] as confirmation is an end of every dispute. In the same way Elohim, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for Elohim to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a [hope] both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, where Yahshua has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek, Hebrews 6:16-20. (Read our in-depth study, Orthodox Believers, pp. 8-11.)
   We are comforted by these promises apprehended and attained through the mediation of Yahshua, and the exceeding and great promise of the first resurrection. (Read our mini study, Just One Resurrection?)

The Benefits
   Though we often do not understand why we go through difficult and troublesome times, we should not think it strange concerning the “fiery trials” (1 Pet. 4:12, KJV) which should try us as though some strange thing was happening. Benefits come from having patiently endured tribulations, trials, and testings, as the Master Himself affirmed: By your endurance you will gain your lives, Luke 21:19. As we learned from Job’s experience, he benefited from the trouble through which he persevered and endured. His latter end was blessed twofold more than his former.
   To ancient Israel, Yahweh said, Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction, Isaiah 48:10. And that He did, beginning in the wilderness through which He led them. Forty years He tested them, to discover what was in their heart, whether they would keep His Commandments, or not (Deut. 8:2).
Are we any better than ancient Israel? Why should we not also be tested and tried, proved whether we will keep His Commandments, or not?
   Today, we have Yahweh’s Spirit to help us, and for that we are grateful. But that doesn’t mean we’re excused from experiencing trouble. Indeed, better that we should experience and patiently endure tribulation, trial, and testing now, before the end of the age. We are to pray and be watchful that we might be counted worthy to escape the things that are coming, and even now, we are starting to see (Matt. 24 and Luke 21). All these things are coming upon the earth, and we are to pray that we can stand acceptably before His throne (Luke 21:36).
   Our perseverance through trials will also benefit others as a testimony of Yahweh’s faithfulness to the Assembly and the world.
   So then those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose in connection with Stephen made their way to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking Word to no one except to Jews alone. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and [began] speaking to the Greeks also, preaching the Master Yahshua. And the hand of the Master was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Master. And the news reached the ears of the Assembly at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas off to Antioch. Then when he had come and witnessed the grace of Elohim, he rejoiced and [began] to encourage them all with resolute hearts to remain [true] to the Master, Acts 11:19-23.
   After Paul’s conversion, he became fully engaged in promoting the Good News of Yahshua. Before, however, his breathing threats and slaughter against the disciples of the Master (Acts 9:1, KJV), and persecuting them, resulted in them being scattered. And with their dispersion into strange cities, they spread the Good News of the Messiah and testified on His behalf to others. And the Word of Yahweh and His Messiah grew throughout the Middle East.
   Later, toward the end of the Apostle’s life, his imprisonment even served a greater purpose. Writing to the Assembly at Philippi, he declared,
   Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the evangel, so that my imprisonment in [the cause] of Messiah has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else, and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Master because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the Word of Elohim without fear, Philippians 1:12-14.

Rejoice in Tribulation
   And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of Elohim has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit which was given to us, Romans 5:3-5.
   Perseverance is endurance. We find the same Greek word, hup-om-on-ay’, G.5281, Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, used for perseverance, and also in this following passage from James 1:2-4, in which it is translated as endurance.
   Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have [its] perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing, James 1:2-4.
   In his experience, Peter lists perseverance as the next attribute after faith, moral excellence, knowledge, and self-control, concluding with love, the crowning of all virtues.
   Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, uprightness, and in your uprightness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Master Yahshua Messiah. For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins, 2 Peter 1:5-9.
   Therefore, we must not ask why we must experience tribulations, trials, and testing. These things aim to create Yahweh’s character in us, bringing us closer to Him Who is Love (1 John 4:16).
   Sometimes, the tribulation we go through is discipline, measured to us because of our actions. But it is imposed upon us for a purpose. Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He [disciplines us] for [our] good, so that we may share His holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness, Hebrews 12:9-11.

Conclusion
    When we first came into the faith, we didn’t know what to experience to bring us to Perfection. But Yahweh has seen us through the difficulties because He was with us and knew that we had committed ourselves to staying on the straight and narrow path.
   Like Job, we needed to learn perseverance; we needed to learn endurance; we needed to learn to maintain our integrity. This is all accomplished by persevering through, and enduring tribulation, keeping Yahweh’s way of life in our lives, so we can speak like Job, saying, But He knows the way I take; [when] He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold, Job 23:10.
   If Job could speak directly to us today, about anything we are going through, in fact, if any of the patriarchs who overcame in times past, or the Apostles or other brethren who maintained their integrity and dedication in the face of tribulation, trials and trouble, we’re sure they would say to us in any adversity that we go through, that, “This, Too, Shall Pass.