“The testing of your faith produces endurance.”
1 Corinthians 1:3 (NAS)
Everywhere I turn around these days this word, endurance, seems to be screaming at me. And in just about every area of my life I would like to scream back at it. My devotional said “God won’t permit more pressure than we can handle” and then I read Paul said “People are watching us as we stay at our post … immersed in tears yet always filled with deep joy; living on handouts, yet enriching many, having nothing, having it all.” 1 Cor. 6: 1-10. Then I hear a song, “Having faith in the long run is easier said than done; It’s hard to live out in the light of day … Despite all your tendencies, God sees it differently; Your struggle’s a time to grow …”
Throughout several areas in my life right now it seems that victory, or breakthrough, is right around the corner, yet so far away. But isn’t this what endurance is about?
Knowing what our circumstances are, we remain faithful in what we believe, in who we are, and in who God is.
Endurance means “the power to withstand hardship or stress; survival, a state of surviving; remaining alive.” I think right now, the heartbeat of what God is putting in all of us is the ability to endure. Not to wither at a trial, but instead to see it as a chance to grow, an opportunity to shine like you never have before. Sometimes there is not an answer, or human understanding for what we are going through. He is not asking for us to find an answer, but just to endure to the end, consistent in our faith, our attitudes, and our actions.
I know that what I face is nothing in the scope of human pain, and endurance. So how, if I cannot endure for a season, will I be able to share the loving mercies of God to someone who has lost a child, a spouse, a family. Whatever I endure, I know there is a purpose and a plan bigger than I can imagine. Storms in my life may come … no they will come, but as a tree planted firmly in the ground, I pray it will only reveal the depth and resilience of my roots.
Listen carefully to the words of this song. I have heard it a hundred times, and only really heard them the other day:
“I’ll praise You in this storm, And I will lift my hands; For You are who You are No matter where I am. Every tear I’ve cried You hold in Your hand. You never left my side. And though my heart is torn I will praise You in this storm.”
I think you hit the nail on the head – the word for the day is “Endurance.” The great thing about endurance is that with God’s power behind us we can stand up to any test and defeat the enemy! I have often taught that endurance means to “actively resist weariness and defeat.” It is the bearing up of difficult circumstances while actively resisting weariness and defeat!
As we endure – God is fighting for us:)
I think you hit the nail on the head – the word for the day is “Endurance.” The great thing about endurance is that with God’s power behind us we can stand up to any test and defeat the enemy! I have often taught that endurance means to “actively resist weariness and defeat.” It is the bearing up of difficult circumstances while actively resisting weariness and defeat and knowing that we serve of God who is moving on our behalf!
As we endure – God is fighting for us:)