One Word is ENDURE

This week I’m continuing to pray through the PIC I shared in last week’s post, More Than Getting Through–

In this passage endurance is a key word. God allows times of trial to produce endurance in me, and I should rejoice in this.

James 1:2-4 speaks to this as well-

James agrees with Paul- that as I encounter different kinds of trials, my attitude should be one of joy because God uses trials to make my faith mature and complete, lacking in nothing.

On my handmade card at home, I circled the word ALL and wrote-

WHATEVER COMES → God is sovereign, and He uses all things to work out spiritual maturity in me.

STEADFASTNESS = ENDURANCE = COMPLETED FAITH

Therefore-

God is allowing this time of uncertainty and isolation to mature my faith as I ENDURE!

I must ENDURE to MATURE!

I realize quickly why this presents difficulty for me-  endurance has never been my strong suit, and recently while cleaning out at my dad’s house, I ran across proof of this very thing. I so wish now that I had snapped a picture of a swim team award I received back in the day- for the most blisters on the bottom of my feet! It was a visible reminder that I was the one most known for stopping in the middle of the pool-  putting my foot down for a moment of rest, unable to continue, to persevere and suffer through the physical pain required for completing the countless laps demanded by the coach.

Right about now, I’m feeling the same struggle to endure the outcomes of living in a world held captive by the COVID-19 virus. The news changes almost daily and talk of implications the virus may have into summer and even possibly fall has left me wondering if perhaps it would be easier to give into my fatigue, put my feet down so to speak on the bottom of the pool, and gain just enough strength to simply make it through to the other side- certainly with blisters!

Of course, my heart has traveled enough with God to know this is not the best answer. I want the spiritual muscles that come from continuing on with God, enduring the hardships He allows, gaining more strength and trust to continue on in obedience as He works things out in me. I want to get  to the other side in better spiritual shape than I was in when all this started.

So I’m adding some additional PICs to my file that speak to how I can ENDURE with hope:

Romans 15:4 identifies that God’s Word is a must have travel companion-

I’m asking God to help me dwell in the word of Christ by praying Colossians 3:16–

All the while, I’m challenged because this week of Easter finds us worshipping and celebrating our risen Savior in a not so normal way. If I’m not careful, I feel a little numb and angry about it. More than ever, I don’t want to ENDURE this current season; I want it to be over so I can return to life and corporate worship with family and friends. I see how much I need the Word to really take root in me and change the thought pattern of my mind.

This morning God reminded me of a passage of scripture that always offers me assurance when the going is hard, and I’m caught in that place of wanting to give up yet longing for the spiritual muscles that come from persevering in obedience.  Jesus has shown me the way forward- he walked a clear path of endurance- all the way to the cross!

1 Peter 2:21-24 says of Jesus-

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

How timely it is to celebrate this week the greatest example of endurance! Jesus went willingly to the cross, enduring its pain and scorn, and completed the work of salvation given Him by the Father. The thing that always strikes me in this passage and that I have taught many times is how He did it- how He endured to complete the work of the cross-

He gave Himself completely to His Father and trusted the One who never errs in judgement!

Oh how I want that to be true of me- that I would follow his example and ENDURE, trusting the One who knows best how to complete his work in me!

It seems fitting to end this post by turning my attention from my own hardship and trial to the One who has completed the work that saves me from them-