| Introduction | xi |
Chapter 1. | Perseverance: Archaic Word of Relevance | 1 |
| Realistic Expectations | 2 |
| The Four Spiritual Flaws | 4 |
| What Is Christian Maturity? | 6 |
Part I | External Pressures | 13 |
Chapter 2. | Misunderstanding: Paralyzing Sting of Humanity | 15 |
| Analyzing Misunderstanding | 19 |
| Illustrating Misunderstanding | 21 |
| Understanding Misunderstanding | 23 |
| Overcoming Misunderstanding | 28 |
Chapter 3. | Stress: Threatening Storm of Anxiety | 33 |
| Analysis of Stress | 35 |
| Units of Stress | 36 |
| A Psalm for the Stressed | 38 |
| Standing Fast | 45 |
| My Stress--God's Strength | 51 |
Chapter 4. | Loss: Lonely Times of Crisis | 56 |
| The Loss of Those You Love | 57 |
| The Loss of Things You Love | 58 |
| God's Great Goal | 70 |
| The Right Perspective | 74 |
Chapter 5. | Impossibilities: Uncrossable Rivers of Life | 79 |
| "Impossible" Scriptures | 80 |
| One "Impossible" Event | 84 |
| Releasing Our Grip | 96 |
| Believing the Unbelievable | 100 |
Chapter 6. | Waiting: Lingering Test of Patience | 104 |
| A Psalm Encouraging Patience | 108 |
| Insight on Patience | 115 |
| Benefit of Waiting | 117 |
Chapter 7. | Temptation: Vulnerable Flaw of Weakness | 121 |
| Trials or Temptations? Knowing the Difference | 122 |
| There Is a Simple Answer | 125 |
| Four Facts About Temptation | 128 |
| Practical Ways to Handle Temptations | 139 |
Part II | Internal Affairs | 155 |
Chapter 8. | Mistakes: Inevitable Marks of Imperfection | 157 |
| Panic-Prompted Mistakes | 158 |
| "Good-Intentioned" Mistakes | 161 |
| Negligent Mistakes | 164 |
| Unrestrained-Curiosity Mistakes | 166 |
| Blind-Spot Mistakes | 167 |
| A Psalm of Balm--for the Mistaken | 169 |
Chapter 9. | Inferiority: Contagious Plague of Self-Doubt | 178 |
| Some Helpful Observations | 180 |
| Three Biblical Candidates for an Inferiority Complex | 184 |
| A Scriptural Viewpoint | 198 |
| Beauty in the Body | 203 |
| Usefulness in the Body | 204 |
| A Prescription | 207 |
Chapter 10. | Fear: Fierce Grip of Panic | 212 |
| Understanding Fear | 215 |
| Overcoming Intimidation | 216 |
| Maintaining Confidence | 221 |
| Staying Balanced | 225 |
| Releasing Fear's Fierce Grip | 226 |
Chapter 11. | Anger: Burning Fuse of Hostility | 232 |
| What Is Anger? | 234 |
| The Scriptures May Surprise You! | 235 |
| When Is Anger Justified? | 241 |
| Unjustified Anger | 251 |
| Winning Over Anger | 262 |
Chapter 12. | Defection: Final Stage of Compromise | 268 |
| An Expert on Defection | 272 |
| Doomsday Declaration | 273 |
| Five Signposts of Defection | 277 |
| The Antidote | 290 |
| A Final Warning | 292 |
| Epilogue: Some Final Reflections on Persevering | 296 |
| Notes | 301 |