Endurance.
I don’t know about you, but the word “endurance” is not a word that’s at the top of the list of virtues I am pursuing intentionally. I think it’s safe to assume that not many of us has that one penned down in our prayer journals as a top prayer request.
We pray for resolution, for a quick and prompt exit from hardships. We long and pray for closure, for relief. All our S.O.S.’s have a sense of urgency because we know we need rescue and a quick one at that. Let’s be real, who likes to stay under the strain and weight of whatever is burdening or afflicting us?
I went to good o’l Google and searched for the definition of “endurance” and this is what it gave me :
the ability to endure an unpleasant or difficult process or situation without giving way.
is the ability of an organism to exert itself 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, or fatigue,(also related to sufferance, resilience, constitution, fortitude, and hardiness)
the capacity of something to last or withstand wear and tear
Endurance can look and feel so different in different seasons.
Sometimes it feels more dynamic, like when we picture someone running a race. It’s finishing that painful college course. It’s showing up to that job we really dislike. It’s being there for our kids day in and day out. It’s completing that tedious DIY project. It’s making time for the most important relationship in our life and making Him our priority. There’s fluidity and movement to it. This kind of endurance has the huge element of discipline to it, it sort of builds on itself and promises to deliver something in the end.
This endurance translates into faithfulness.
Other times endurance feels way more static, way more desperate and void of a “grand finale”. There’s no crowds cheering at the end of this race, there’s no degree to show for, no bouquet of flowers, no raise, no accolades of any sort, no evidence of ground taken per say and most of the time there seems like there is no perceivable end in sight.
Endurance in this raw state still implies “struggle”, a “not there yet”, an “in process”, a rainbow wheel of sorts, and we really have nothing to show for it! Yet.
Nothing. Other than we’re still hanging on. And hanging on feels inconclusive not just inconvenient.
It doesn’t feel like “faithfulness”, it feels way more like “survival”.
When we’re pushing through despite the opposition.
When we’re not believing the lies spoken over us.
When we’re not loosing our grip but holding on to the hand of our Saviour.
When we’re not giving into that temptation but turning from it even when it pulls ever so strongly at our hearts.
When we’re declaring a truth to ourselves about God that hasn’t reached our hearts quite yet.
It may feel like we’re not necessarily advancing, but is that completely true? The process of enduring doesn’t always guarantee success as we perceive success.
Endurance tends to get less attention unless it delivers something tangible or explainable.
I don’t know about you, but it’s not always easy to explain the inner workings I’ve muscled through and am still working on. There’s so many personal stakes I feel I have placed in the ground of my heart, but they’re not always obvious to the world around me. I know for sure I gravitate to celebrating my successes over the actual journey that got me there.
“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9
Why would this be in the Bible unless God knew we needed encouragement when we do get weary and tired of doing good. It’s going to be tough sometimes, plain and simple. Those of us who have lived for a little while can attest to that. But there’s a promise for those who do not give up.
“ Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” Romans 5:3-5
“ For whatever is written in the former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” Romans 15:4
Endurance goes beyond just surviving. It is supposed to lead us to something - it’s supposed to lead us to hope and not leave us empty handed. It’s supposed to produce in us something that can’t be measured outwardly.
And the link between endurance and hope is character.
The process of enduring will build in us a character that can see hope around the corner. There’s a silent yet deep rooted strength and resilience that no one can take away from us. It’s a lesson so imprinted in our hearts. It will stretch our capacity to preserve that trust in a good God who has not only been present with us but has been working deeply in us the whole time.
A gracious God who doesn’t call us to just suck it up,- the harder you suffer, the holier you will be! I used to believe this. True story. But that’s another story. This whole process of endurance is a necessary part of growth and maturing and major component in this journey of following Jesus.
As His children we will constantly be going against the current flow of this world. We will feel the brokenness of everything in a greater way because we are aware of how far humanity has veered away from the original intention God had for us in relationship with Him.
But:
“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12
Endurance may not always feel like success but God sees it differently. He sees it like winning.
You’re winning. You’re conquering something.
You’re doing way more than just surviving.
You’re reaching out to a hope that comes with a guarantee of something far greater than what you can fathom.
Trust the process. Trust the One who is with you right now. Hold on to hope during those bumpy rides.
You may not recognize yourself after.
