Joe LoCicero of Norway, Maine, is known by his nickname, “Million Mile Joe.” Because he carefully maintained his 1990 Honda, Joe was able to put a million miles on the car.

But now we are hearing about Irv Gordon of Long Island, New York, who is about to see the odometer on his 1966 Volvo hit the three-million-mile mark. Irv, like Joe, knows that regular maintenance, oil changes, tune ups and the like are keys to their vehicles' longevity.

I would say those two automobiles just won't quit; they keep on going.

Do the phrases, “won't quit,” “keeps on going,” “hangs in there” describe you? We know we are maturing when we can persevere. Perseverance simply is the ability to keep on going despite obstacles, pain, or discouragement. In fact, “perseverance” is a great Bible word.

James, a New Testament writer, had this to say about perseverance: "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12).

Tragically, many people give up only to discover they were within inches of their goal. Giving up can mean that we quit making the effort to do something, or that we quit believing something. The lack of perseverance and stick ability in our lives usually means we have let go of our faith. When this happens, not only do we let go of our responsibility, but we also give up rewards and blessings that would have come to us had we hung in there just a little longer.

I'm sure you know people who gave up too easily, quit too quickly, and backed down at the first obstacle. Maybe you tend to do that in your own life. So how can we help ourselves persevere when it is not easy to do so?

First, make the choice that you will not give up. Every person encounters bumps in the road. Problems and setbacks come to all of us. But we don't have to let these obstacles bring us down. To persevere is a choice we make. Napoleon once said, “Victory belongs to him who has the most perseverance.”

Second, allow the Scriptures to give you hope and patience. In the Bible you read about others who served the Lord but who also suffered and endured all kinds of problems. Through God's help they kept on going. Their example can encourage you to do the same.

Third, maintain your focus. Distractions can easily pull you off course. But knowing where you are going and why you are going there enables you to put up with a lot of frustration. Staying focused is the ultimate in personal discipline.

Fourth, quit searching for a stress-free or obstacle-free life. It doesn't exist. Every person has problems. Overcoming adversity often produces some of the most rewarding experiences we will ever have. Throwing in the towel at the first sign of trouble may be the easy thing to do, but it doesn't help you grow and mature.

Fifth, find other ways to practice perseverance. If you were traveling to work, and an accident had your route blocked, what would you do? You would take another route. Most likely many different ways are available to accomplish your goal. Don't allow obstacles and excuses to stop you from reaching your destination. Instead of letting those difficulties stop you, find ways to get around those obstacles with perseverance.

Perseverance is one of the best qualities to have because with perseverance success in your endeavors is almost guaranteed. Don't give up too soon.