Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. But the multitude of the city was divided: part sided with the Jews, and part with the apostles.
Acts 14:3-4

When opposition arose against the gospel ministry (v.2), Paul and Barnabas didn’t cut their losses and run. No, they continued in the work. Notice that in (v.3) immediately on the heels of the opposition in (v.2), we read”

“Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord…”

The “therefore” is important. It was specifically because of the opposition that they “stayed” and persevered.

If we persevere only when circumstances are easy, what valor is required? It is when things are difficult that remaining faithful is noble. Regardless in which arena of life we face opposition, let us be men and women of valor, refusing to give up. The saying is true: “Though we may lose certain battles, we win no surrenders!”

Of course there are times when the best way to deal with a bad situation is to change situations. There are times when changing jobs, for instance, is the right thing to do. But there are other situations when it is virtually never the right choice to run away. May God give us the wisdom to know the difference and the strength to persevere when perseverance is the right choice.