Endurance: Staying the course when problems look or feel overwhelming or the journey seems too long…
Even though we have the power of the Resurrected Christ, His Holy Spirit within us, always available to us---What motivates us to keep going when we feel like Jesus is a million miles away? What puts energy into our spirits when we seem to run out of answers and resources?
Where does our power to live, serve and to keep giving come from in the dry times? All of us run out of motivation from time to time, no matter how much we may have previously experienced. What is it that fuels us into effortless service when we are stuck in the quagmires of life?
It seems that every day we are learning that what used to motivate us is no longer enough. We must go further and higher, pressing on to what lies ahead. We must step into the unfolding grace that is always available and abundant in the next moment. In that gracemoment we keep learning the focus of Jesus. At that same moment in time we must also lose interest in what we are pursuing. And we learn that unless we become interested in the focus of Jesus, the going will get tougher than we can bear.
Let’s consider how Paul approached this very real issue of endurance!
7 … what things were gains to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Phi. 3: 10-14, NKJV)
We can’t think in terms of learning new keys or secrets, but of continuing in the simplest truths of the gospel. We learn (sometimes daily) by experience that there is no way forward when pressed to our extremities but to sacrifice ourselves at every turn for His sake, knowing nothing but Jesus and Him crucified. We must die to live. It is better to give than to receive, and better to love than to be loved. We cannot lose, because we have a perfect Savior who is able to finish what He began in us, if we do not give up and throw away our faith.
8 I think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and completely overwhelmed, and we thought we would never live through it. 9 In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we learned not to rely on ourselves, but on God who can raise the dead. 10 And he did deliver us from mortal danger. And we are confident that he will continue to deliver us. (2 Cor. 1:8-10 Msg)
Why? Because we are only jars of clay, very fragile and finite, capable of only giving out so much, and with very limited understanding and strength. We find ourselves daily embracing the Gospel of Grace and then we come to be encouraged by our human limitations. How can we be encouraged-because God’s power and glory will become obvious in our weakness?
“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body” (2 Cor. 4:7–10).
Remain Strong and Courageous
(Presence always undergirds strength and courage)
David said to his son Solomon, “Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed (or lose hope), for the Lord God--my God--will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord. (1 Chron. 28:20 NKJV)
God’s instruction to Joshua after Moses died “No one will be able to stand their ground against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you." 6 "Be strong and courageous, for you will lead my people to possess all the land I swore to give their ancestors. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Obey all the laws Moses gave you. Do not turn away from them, and you will be successful in everything you do. 8 Study this Book of the Law continually. Meditate on it day and night so you may be sure to obey all that is written in it. Only then will you succeed. 9 I command you -- be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."
Remain Resolute and Faithful
(Live by your previous decisions to acknowledge and trust God’s Perspective, Power, and Provision--with the willingness to transform good intentions into obedient actions)
“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" 56 For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. 57 How we thank God, who gives us victory over sin and death through Jesus Christ our Lord! 58 So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and steady, always enthusiastic about the Lord's work, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless. (1 Cor. 15: 55-58 NLT)
“What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see. 2 God gave his approval to people in days of old because of their faith. 3 By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God's command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen. 4 It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. God accepted Abel's offering to show that he was a righteous man. And although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us because of his faith. 5 It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying -- "suddenly he disappeared because God took him." But before he was taken up, he was approved as pleasing to God. 6 So, you see, it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. (Hebrews 11: 1-6 NLT)
This ‘endurance’ thing is starting to grow on me. Warning: There are no formulas or how to steps for endurance. There are no ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’ who have somehow been endowed with a greater capacity for hanging in there and who have the golden spoon of an easier journey than most! The scriptures strongly warn us that it is “unwise to compare ourselves with others.” Why? Because we always come up with the wrong conclusions. We only see a snapshot, not the entire life view of others’ journey. While all the scripture’s above are absolute truth there is also more than enough mercy, grace and love from God to more than just make it through life. I should know. I collect social security. And that really leaves us ‘old folks’ wanting. That being said, the grace to endure is where my faith focus remains! Ron Ross
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