Peter used the word “perseverance” to describe the fifth level of spiritual development through which God desires to bring His people. In the New International Version of the Bible the term "perseverance" occurs thirteen times, all in the New Testament; and is always translated from the Greek noun “hypomone,” which refers to “endurance in the face of trials.” When applied to followers of Jesus, “perseverance” describes the ability to continue following Him in spite of hindrances or opposition from the Devil, the flesh, or the world. In short, “perseverance” is the ability to “keep on keeping on.” It is refusing to quit. When James wrote the first few verses of chapter two of his letter, he answered a question that has perplexed the minds of men for generations: “Why does God allow trials to invade the lives of His people?” In our current American culture, we would ask, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” James would reply, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance” (James 1:2-3, NIV). In other words, the trials that truly put your faith to the test are designed by God to develop “perseverance” in you. Faith-testing trials are God’s means of moving His people to that level of spiritual development Peter described as “perseverance,” when he wrote, “Giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance” (II Peter 1:5-6a, NIV).