I remember cross country races when I was a kid. Actually, I don't really remember the races. I kind of blotted them out. I do remember, however, that terrible feeling of no strength in the legs, no air in the lungs and my throat full of vomit as I lay on the ground three metres from the finish line, recovering.

It's a vivid enough feeling to make me avoid all sports which require perseverance. Because, really, I don't like perseverance. It's hard, relentless and boring. And I always think at the end I'll probably end up vomiting.

The Bible says in Romans that "suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." Well, that's good. But I like the next bit even better. "And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."

I won't be taking up long distance running any time soon. Nor long distance bike riding. Nor any sport really. No surprises there. But I do have a few things in my life that feel like suffering, through which I do have to persevere. So I might keep this verse in mind for the next little while and figure that God is building character and hope - which won't be disappointing. No vomit involved.