knowing that you were redeemed, not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, from the useless way of life handed down from your fathers,

 Here is the recipe for endurance when life is hard and faith is difficult. We can stand up to things because of the greatness to which we can look forward, because every trial is another test to strengthen and to purify our faith, and because at the end of it Jesus Christ is waiting to say, "Well done!" to all his faithful servants. 