"Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified." -1 Corinthians 9:24-27

It seems, especially in this day and age, that any sort of discomfort or pain is looked down upon, and it would be best if it were quickly done away with. Thus, through the great advances in science, doctors have come up with pain relievers, steroids, marijuana, etc. to relieve even the slightest discomfort. These medicines do little to get rid of the source of the pain, they simply numb the person for a short amount of time. Eventually the medicine's effect wears off and the person returns to his/her uncomfortable state, wherein he/she will most likely upper the dose and take some more drugs. And it is an unfortunate thing that this same method of temporarily relieving pain while doing nothing to actually fight through it has caused many of us Christians to grow numb.
Today, the idea of perseverance seems to exists only in the athletic and academic realm, wherein men and women try with all their might to become the best individual they can be. They live life and struggle through difficulties so that they can make a name for themselves, a name that will fade away. But we are not like the rest, as Christians, we live our lives not for ourselves, but for the immortal God, the great "I AM". How much more ought we to persevere than the rest? We seem so quick to cower in view of any sort of trial, thinking to ourselves that God's plan cannot possibly include our own pain. What will we say before God on the day of judgment? We cannot say we were too tired, or we needed a time out... our comfort is not God's priority. The will of God for us is made clear in scripture, "our sanctification". We will never know God's strength until we realize how short our own supply is.

"Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God." -1 Peter 4:1-2