What Endurance Looks Like

We can't endure as Christian women without trusting the Lord, strong focus, and consistency in our efforts. Get a practical picture of enduring and encouragement from God's word to move forward.

Transcript

The word endure is defined as “suffer patiently.” What have you had to endure lately? As I look back over my life, I can remember a lot of examples when I had to endure something unpleasant. We endure microwave minutes when we’re really hungry and just can’t wait until the food is hot. We’ve all endured boring lectures at school. Moms, how about enduring those labor pains in order to birth that beautiful baby? There are longer seasons that seem like they won’t end, like periods of grief and loneliness. What is it that you are having to patiently suffer through right now? How are you holding up?

The fact of the matter is that we all have a need for endurance in this life. We struggle through things because at the end of it all is something that we are after. Whatever it is that we are seeking in our lives, it is likely that we will have to endure for some period of time. The ugly alternative is to give up and never see that hope fulfilled. That doesn’t sound good, does it?

What does endurance look like in daily life? Practically, endurance looks like trust in God, consistency in effort, and focus on the ultimate goal. 

First of all, endurance looks like trust in God. We have to trust God at His word in order to endure the trials we face in life. We have to know the character of God, we have to understand how good He is in order to trust Him to see us through our problems and situations. One of the things that many people naturally question when bad things happen is God’s goodness. Have you ever thought, “how could God let this happen? Why is this happening to me? Is God really good? Does God really love me? Does he even care how much suffering this is causing me?” If we are to endure to the end, we can’t question the truth, which is that God is good and He does love us and He is for us and not against us. Jeremiah 29:11 says 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” If you have struggled to believe that God has a plan and purpose for your life, it’s time to challenge your doubts. Look back over your testimony and ask the Lord to show you where He is leading you. The Lord has a way of piecing together our experiences and who we are and making something that blesses others.

Endurance requires trust in who God says He is, and His plans for you.

Endurance also looks like consistency in effort. If you set a goal and you are trying to take steps to reach that goal, you have to be consistent in your efforts. Sometimes people will try something to see if it works, and them give up on it because they didn’t see results right away. Then they say, oh I tried that before and it didn’t work. Did you really try it? Did you actually trust the process, follow it through to the end, and consistently put forth the effort for an extended time? Maybe you’ve tried it on and off for a long time, but not everyday not every week, or what have you. Endurance requires consistency. If you occasionally save money, or save work out once in a while, casually tinker with a project, how do you expect to see it through to the end? You can’t lose weight or meet saving goals or launch a successful product without consistency. We can’t wait until we are in the mood. Galatians 6:9 says So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.

Motivation is great for starting out, but once the motivation is gone, you have to show up. You have to keep going when you really want to quit. You have to keep putting in that effort until to reach the goal or you will never get there. You will go in circles, and say, “I tried” but you really didn’t actually try. You have to be consistent. 

Endurance also looks like focus. You have to be focused. You can’t endure well if you are distracted. There are so many ways to get distracted. It is so important for us as women of faith the maintain a heavenly perspective on this journey. We have to keep our focus on the goal of Christlikeness. Philippians 3:12-14 says, “I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” We need to stay focused on the prize. Our journey here is meant to mold us and shape us into a character that is more and more like Christ everyday. The circumstances that we are going through are developing our characters so that we can represent Jesus better in our daily lives. This is not about you and your problems. Your life matters in the bigger picture of God’s ultimate plan, which is to draw all people to Himself. The prize is Him, and being in right standing with Him. 

The word of God is so powerful. I really love how scripture can speak to our lives again and again, encouraging us, teaching us and changing us through every season of our lives. I find strength and hope from reading, studying and obeying God’s word, and it is my hope and prayer for you to find your strength and hope in the Bible as well. It’s my mission to help you do just that. 

Let go to James 1:2-4.

It says, “Dear brothers and sisters, 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.”

This is one of my favorite passages of scripture. It starts out talking about how we should consider our trouble an opportunity for joy. What a way to look at our problems, right? When things go wrong, it is certainly not the natural response to be joyful about it. Why would I look at circumstances that I really don’t like, in a situation that I’m honestly not happy with, and be joyful about it? It doesn’t make sense, at first. 

If you continue reading it explains that the testing of our faith is producing something. It’s helping us to develop something within our characters. Endurance is being grown and strengthened within us when we go through difficult times. 

“Dear brothers and sisters, 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.” The end game here is spiritual maturity! You will be perfect and complete, needing nothing! Can you imagine not needing anything? The goal is spiritual maturity. This is happening to you so that you can be a witness to the goodness and faithfulness and power of almighty God. So your life can shine as an example of who God is so that others can come to Him. You have to endure and focus on this goal. This life is not about you, it’s bigger than you. Stop being so focused on yourself, and feeling sorry for your problems, and count it joy! This is a chance for the glory of God to show up in your life and inspire people! What an honor that is! What a privilege that is! You have to focus on the real goal. If you want to endure to the end, you can focus on yourself and what you want, and your little dreams. At the end of it all it’s about who God is and what He has planned for all of us, not just you, but the big picture. How do you fit into that puzzle?

You may be reflecting on your life right now and realizing all of the opportunities for joy there are. Everyday there is something that doesn’t go according to your plan, we have struggles, and problems, inconveniences, but count it all joy. Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” If you are going through something right now, and you weren’t sure why, be encouraged that you are being shaped into the image of God. Instead of asking “why me?” You can ask, “Lord, what do I need to work on in my character? What are you trying to teach me? What do I need to surrender to you?” Ultimately everything that you are going through is going to change you. Why not lean into it and expect good things to happen in the end? Why not go into every circumstance with joy, knowing that God is preparing you for something good? 

Endurance is a crucial, necessary part of the Christian walk. It says in Matthew 23:13 says, “But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” It is importance for us as Christian women to build our endurance.

Life is hard because in order to grow and become the women that reflect the image of Christ, we have to endure. We have to trust that God is who He says He is. We have to be focused and consistent. The only way that we can develop these things is through life’s challenges.

I know that it may not feel good right now. Life is so hard, sometimes, but all of this is temporary. You will not have to go through this forever. There is an end to all of this. When it is over, I want you to be able to say, I am a better person because I went through this. I can handle these types of situations now because of what God taught me in these circumstances. Better still, I can help other people get through situations like these. I can bless this one or that one because of my testimony of how God saw me through this hard time. That sound like a reason to be joyful to me, even in the middle of it all. Hey, we win this thing! So be encouraged by the fact that your life isn’t easy right now, because that means you are becoming the woman that God created you to become, so you can do the things God created you to do, all for His glory, AMEN?

If you were blessed by this episode, subscribe! If you are looking to build more focus and consistency in your life, let me help you. Grab a copy of my book, “I’m a Turtle: Biblical Wisdom from the Hare and the Tortoise,” where I parallel the classic fable with the Christian race and share my story. The link is in the description. Get connected with the Jesus Women community at patreon.com/jesuswomen. God bless you! Thanks for listening. And remember, don’t quit, get equipped!