October 13, 2022
Endurance
Praise be to God who always causes me to triumph.
(2 Corinthians 2:14 NKJV)
Beloved one, I have prayed a lot about endurance lately. I do not want to serve God and mankind my whole life and then at the end of my life fall short! It is my deepest desire to endure to the end. How do you get endurance? James 1:2-4 tells us when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. Endurance in Greek means steadfast or to remain, in the dictionary it means to suffer, resilient, fortitude, the ability to exert yourself and remain active for a long period of time, as well as its ability to resist, withstand, recover from, and have immunity to trauma, wounds, and fatigue.
The Word says, because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved, (Matthew 24:12-13, 10:22 NLT) and if we endure, we will also reign with him. (2 Timothy 2:12) James says, ‘Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. (James 1:12) What Bible figure besides Jesus comes to mind who endured? Job endured great loss and brokenness, and we know the outcome – God gave him double for his trouble. In all of the Lord’s dealings, the Lord is full of compassion and He’s merciful. (James 5:11) It requires discipline to endure hardships. (Hebrews 12:7)
Endurance has two aspects:
1. The first aspect has to do with a commitment on your part. It means not giving up and having a determination to see a thing through to the end no matter how difficult.
2. The second aspect focuses on God who is always more than able to do exceedingly more than we dare ask or think. (Ephesians 3:20)
When I am walking through a trial or adversity, I try to stay focused on the blessing waiting for me on the other side of the challenge. There is always a blessing waiting for you on the other side of suffering and challenge. But God’s grace is sufficient for you and me to get through the storm. (2 Corinthians 12:9) In my weakness God is strong. Paul said, ‘To keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me, but he said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Paul said, ‘for that reason, I will boast even more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)
When God gives you an assignment, He empowers you and gives you the grace to accomplish it. There may be times you feel that it’s impossible to see the matter through to the end. Perhaps at this moment in your life, it looks as though it would be easier to quit than to fight to overcome. I have been where you are and know quite well how you feel. The devil is a liar! Do you really want to stay stuck where you are for the rest of your life? You are an overcomer by the blood of the Lamb and the word of your testimony. (Revelation 12:11) When we come to the end of our capabilities, then we see God take over who is the God of the impossible. Only through Christ will we be able to endure to the end. (Exodus 14:14) You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. (Philippians 4:13, 4:6-7, Ephesians 3:16-19) Stand on the Word and hide scripture in your heart as you press toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God. (Philippians 3:14) Have you not known; have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grows weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted, but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, and they shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:28-31).
Make this confession with me:
I declare and decree: This battle belongs to the Lord, He will fight for me and I won’t even have to lift a finger. I am healthy, I am wealthy in every way and generous on every occasion, I am wise beyond my years, I have keen discernment, and every time I study the Word of God, I receive great revelation. I declare and decree God’s grace is sufficient for me, in my weakness He is strong, and I will endure to the end because I am resilient and receive the crown of life. (James 1:12) I declare I will not fear what I have to suffer, I will remain faithful even in the face of death, and I will receive the crown of life in Jesus’ name. (Revelation 2:10) God uses my weakness for His glory and gives me strength. God uses weak people to do great things. Thanks be to God who ALWAYS causes me to triumph in Jesus’ all-powerful name. Amen.
