When I think about perseverance, my mind goes straight to Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 13:7:
“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
For many, these words are a reminder of what love should look like. For me, as an adoptee, they are also a reflection of my life’s journey, a life marked by moments where love had to fight through uncertainty, identity questions, and the ache of what was lost. Adoption is often referred to as gaining a forever family, or a new beginning. However, while there is beauty, there is a heaviness right next to it. Bearing all things” has meant holding the complexity of both joy and grief. The quiet moments are when I carry questions about my past without all the answers, the holidays where I miss people I have never met. This part of love isn’t flashy. It is the steady strength to persevere.
Perseverance is not simply about surviving; it is about loving through the mess, the questions, and the years of uncertainty. First Corinthians 13 is a roadmap on how to keep going when life is hard. As an adoptee, the verse is a reminder that my story is held by a God whose love bears with me, believes in me, hopes for me, and endures with me every single step of the way. There’s a common idea that perseverance means ignoring pain. But real perseverance, like the kind Paul describes, is forged in the middle of it. In adoption, this often means living with two realities: the ache of loss and the beauty of belonging. Perseverance does not erase the ache, but it refuses to let it have the final word. It allows love to stand steady, even when disappointment, confusion, or fear try to knock it over.
Perseverance is exhausting when I try to carry it alone. My strength has come from knowing that God’s love is steady and that His endurance covers me when mine runs out. It comes from trusted people who stay, who listen, who remind me I am worth the effort. And it comes from a deep belief that my story is not over yet. Every chapter I’ve walked through has been preparing me for the next.
Your Story of Perseverance
Check-In
Before you begin, find a space where you feel safe and comfortable.
Take three deep breaths and remind yourself: My story matters. My voice matters.
Write Freely
- When I have had to endure something hard as an adoptee, what has helped me keep going?
- Who in my life has shown me what perseverance looks like?
- What part of my adoption story still requires perseverance today?
- How has God met me in moments when I wanted to give up?
If you feel ready, share one of your journal reflections with a trusted friend, mentor, or support group. Let them remind you that your perseverance is not just survival. It’s a testimony of love that endures all things.
For adoptees, perseverance is often unseen by others. It happens in the quiet decisions we make every day: to try again, to trust again, to love again. The verse in Corinthians reminds me that true love does not leave when it’s hard. And for me, that is the essence of perseverance: a love that endures all things, because it is rooted in the One who never let us go.
What Kind of Perseverer Are You?
Discover the way you move through challenges and where your strength quietly shows up.
- When faced with a setback, your first instinct is to:
- A) Reflect and pray: You need stillness before action
- B) Push forward: You don’t like to sit in hard feelings too long
- C) Lean into your support system and talk it out
- D) Reevaluate your path and change direction if needed
- Your perseverance most often shows up as:
- A) Quiet strength: You keep showing up, even if no one sees it
- B) Creative adaptation: You always find another way
- C) Emotional resilience: You feel deeply but don’t give up
- D) Relational loyalty: You fight for the people you love, even when it’s hard
- Which phrase feels most true for you?
- A) I bend, but I don’t break.
- B) Even when it hurts, I grow.
- C) I’ve made it this far, and I’m not turning back now.
- D) I carry both love and pain, and I still choose to keep going.
- When someone misunderstands your struggle, you usually:
- A) Stay silent: You’re used to holding things in
- B) Try to explain, but it doesn’t always come out right
- C) Write, sing, create: You express yourself through action
- D) Feel it deeply, but keep loving anyway
- What helps you persevere the most?
- A) Faith and inner reflection
- B) Purpose and vision for your future
- C) Connection with others who ‘get it’
- D) Remembering what you’ve already survived
How to Read Your Results:
Tally your answers and identify the letter you chose most often.
Mostly A’s – The Steady Soul
You persevere quietly, rooted in reflection, faith, and a deep inner well. Your strength is subtle,
sacred, and unwavering. Others may not always see it, but your resilience shapes everything you do.
Mostly B’s – The Creative Climber
You adapt and keep climbing – even when the path isn’t clear. Your perseverance flows from your
imagination, your willingness to reimagine what’s possible, and your courage to pivot when needed.
Mostly C’s – The Heartful Warrior
You feel deeply, and that’s your superpower. Even when it hurts, you lean in. You keep going, not /because it’s easy, but because your heart won’t let you give up.
Mostly D’s – The Loyal Flame
You burn steadily. You carry love through loss, confusion, and hardship. Even when trust is hard, you show up again and again – not because you forget the pain, but because you believe in connection.