From Faith to Faith: Endurance

 "We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.  And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation."

Romans 5:3-4

I look at Scriptures, like the one above, and immediately I am humbled! Why? Because I realize that I still have a LONG way to go! I know that I need endurance, but I don't want to go through the process in order to get that endurance. I, and I dare say most of us, would rather just pray for things like love, patience, endurance, strength, wisdom, etc., and just  wake up the next morning with it. How many of us know that is not how God operates though? In order to receive whatever fruit of the Holy Spirit or Christ-like trait that we need, we have to actually go through tests to obtain it. To put it simply 

we have to suffer, in order to grow.

 

Let's look at the definition of the word endurance, according to the dictionary.

Endurance:

 The fact or power of enduring an unpleasant or difficult process or situation without giving way.

To undergo (as a hardship) especially without giving in.
To remain firm under suffering or misfortune without yielding.

None of that sounds fun to me. Just give me endurance for $500 please Alex. When I'm going through something, the last thing I want to do is endure. I naturally want to have a pity party, eat chocolate, or do some other activity to take my mind off my circumstance. I mean let's be honest who wants to naturally rejoice or count it all joy when going through a test or trial (James 1:2-4)? No one (at least no one that I have ever met). Our initial reaction is typically to ask God to get us out of whatever we are currently in or try to figure out how we can get ourselves out of it. Our flesh wants to get out the easiest and quickest way possible. Thankfully God is Sovereign and knows best. He knows what we can and cannot handle, at just the right time. He knows that some of us would never pray if we didn't go through stuff. He knows that some of us tend to forget Him in our plenty, like The Israelites did in the Old Testament. We have to constantly remind ourselves that His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not His thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9). His Word tells us that He disciplines those that He loves (Hebrews 12:5). One of our underlying goals, as Christians, should be to continually grow in spiritual maturity. We should not desire to be on the same level as we were last year, 6 months ago, or even yesterday. The training ground for spiritual maturity is suffering because it not only develops our patience, but we become more refined and Christ-like in the process.

None of us has endured to the point of death yet, like Jesus, otherwise you would not be reading this post right now. He endured pain for each and every one of us, on the cross, for crimes and sins that He did not commit. When our flesh rises up and decides that it is done enduring, let's look to Jesus and remember what He did for us 2,000 years ago. If Christ didn't give up, then we don't have to either.

There are many days when I do not feel like enduring and I would much rather bypass this season or quit, but I realized something recently. It's okay to feel like you want to give up, that's how your carnal nature is designed to react. You are not less of a Christian if you have human emotions and thoughts about quitting. As a matter of fact there are various stories in the Bible of prophets, leaders, and disciples that wanted to give up at times, but they didn't. What was their secret? They placed their hope and trust in The Lord, and not in this world. Their eyes were fixed on eternity and they knew that whatever they endured now, would pale in comparison to the glory they would experience when they got to meet God, face to face. The people of the Old Testament times didn't even have the Holy Spirit, as all those who are truly born again have now, yet they still held on to a greater hope. Thank God that Jesus Christ ascended into heaven after His resurrection, so that now we could all have the presence of God with us at all times. Even as I type this, He is with me and with you at the same time. Yes, we may think or feel like giving up, but because we have the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit living within us, we can put our flesh under subjection and endure. We can take those thoughts and make them obedient to Christ. We can persevere through anything because of Christ, who gives us strength. That is where true joy is birthed, when you figure out that The Lord is your strength, that nothing is more valuable or precious than your relationship with Him, and you don't have to handle life on your own, because The Holy Spirit is with you always. 

Is it fun to suffer through seasons of tests and tribulations? No

Is it worth it? Absolutely

My prayer is that as I continue to grow in The Lord, when I get hit with problems that my immediate reaction will be to praise The Lord, rejoice and smile, but honestly I'm just not there yet. One thing I do know is that this is a process and the tests and trials that I'm facing this year, last year would have broken me. So I'm choosing to be thankful for spiritual growth and maturity in my life. It doesn't matter how fast you progress, in reference to someone else. What matters most is that you keep moving forward- day by day, step by step. Your journey is uniquely tailored for you to run and endure, so there's no need to compare. Our tests, trials, and tribulations may all be different, but they serve the same purpose; to make us more like Christ. We must keep the bigger picture in mind, which is eternity.  God is Sovereign and there's nothing that we face that hasn't first been filtered through His loving hands of grace. 

Let's pray:

Father, we know that your Word tells us not to grow weary in well doing (Galatians 6:9), so we ask that you would strengthen us to endure the circumstances that we are facing right now. We desire for you to get the ultimate glory from our lives and we know that often times seasons of testing and trials is how you do that. Please forgive us for trying to run away from the problems in our lives and/or trying to handle them on our own, apart from You. We know that your grace is sufficient is for us and that in our weaknesses Your power is shown strong (2 Corinthians 12:9). Lord, we humbly and boldly come before your throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace in our time of need (Hebrews 4:16). Thank you for caring for us and allowing us to cast our worries, anxieties, and cares on You (1 Peter 5:7). Help us to strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race that You have set before us (Hebrews 12:1). Father help us to fix our eyes on Jesus, who is the author and finisher of our faith and endured the cross, disregarding its shame (Hebrews 12:2). We thank You Lord that though we may have many trials and sorrows in this world, we can take heart, because You have already overcome the world, through the victory that was won at the cross (John 16:33). You said that You work ALL things out for the good of those who love You and are called according to Your purpose (Romans 8:28). We choose this day to put our faith, hope, and trust in You alone. God, we love and adore You and thank You for being such a faithful and loving Father to us. 

In Jesus' Name Amen <3 

Until next time,

Cierra

xoxo

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