We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful. James 5:11
Yesterday was a beautiful day so I went for a run. While I managed to endure to the end, it wasn’t easy for several reasons. In addition to my normal health concerns, a couple of weeks ago, I had a respiratory infection that has left me with a nagging cough. I have asthma and forgot to use my inhaler before the run. I also have a knee that isn’t always the most cooperative as well as a wart being treated on one foot that can be uncomfortable. I could go on, but you get the idea…there were obstacles that had to be endured to finish running the course. Today it turned cold and rainy causing my body to ache significantly. Further, it was one of those days when fatigue and lethargy set in. Today’s form of endurance had a different nature, but was endurance nonetheless. In fact, every day seems to require a fair amount of patient endurance. I must accept undesired changes in my lifestyle and abilities as my body often seems to be my worst enemy. It can be rather trying at times. However, each day I do my best to: stand, run the race, endure with grace, and to live well. Some days that goes fairly well while others see limited, if any, success. I struggle daily to endure because of God’s involvement in my life. From my perspective, here are three of the many encouragements to endure.
First, I truly believe that we are created to glorify God and enjoy Him in every circumstance…not just the pleasant ones. Therefore, I feel compelled to give my best each day as an act of faithful love towards my Creator and Savior. That’s the goal. As an errant man, I often fail; however, I continue to rise each day to try again because my hope is in God’s promise to continually work to perfect and sustain me. It’s a process that will continue the rest of my life. As this cycle repeats itself day after day, my relationship with God deepens encouraging me to endure as long as God allows me to walk this earth.
The second encouragement is, as the passage above states, that God is full of compassion and merciful. I see it repeatedly in scripture and I have experienced it often. As I greet every day, I am reminded that God’s mercies are truly new each morning. Those mercies fuel my hope and work to overcome my doubt, fear and fatigue. They declare that I am not alone and that Christ is my ever caring and only source of strength. As I see God’s compassion and mercy displayed on my behalf, my love for Him grows and encourages me to endure with grace.
Finally, God has convicted me to seek His direction rather than relying on my own or cultural wisdom. It is not a new concept. Psalm 119 repeatedly requests God’s teaching. Further, after Job’s ordeal and discourse with God, he repents and seeks God’s instruction. God may not provide all of the reasons for my need to endure, but He will provide the training necessary to live well in my circumstance. My duty is to remain teachable. The hope of learning to be more like Christ is also a form of encouragement to endure.
I run to keep my body in the best possible shape and for sheer enjoyment of it. In that there is purpose, but that is where it ends. I am very grateful that God has seen fit to bless me by allowing me to run again. Yet, barring the Lord’s return, one day I will die and my body will decay destroying any physical benefit of running. However, in contrast, I live my life enduring for the eternal prize. I am encouraged to endure as I see the purpose of my life, acknowledge that my merciful and compassionate Father in Heaven is directing the course of my life, and recognize the value that each circumstance and trial has for instruction and growing in grace.
My heart’s desire is that you too may rise to endure each day seeing the purpose God has for your life, remembering that He is compassionate and merciful, and accepting the value of His instruction allowing Him to mold and perfect you. It’s a process leads to blessed endurance.