Endurance

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

When we face the things that we want to resist, the things that cause us to suffer, we grow. We learn how to endure so that when the next thing comes we are better equipped to stand. I realize that endurance only comes by increasing incrementally what was once impossible.

I used to really struggle to walk a mile, now I have built up my endurance. I can finish that mile in twenty-minutes. Now I can work on increasing my speed while continuing to increase my endurance in distance and time.

It is the same way spiritually, but the endurance helps me to grow in character. God doesn’t want my character to fail as He entrusts more of Him to me. I can start to hope in the promises that He has given that they will come to pass, even when the circumstances look otherwise.

So often the enemy attacks the areas where I have put my hope. Shame wants to set in that somehow I have to feel bad that God’s promises have not come to pass. I see it as a tactic to get my eyes on me and get my eyes off God and off His faithfulness. When I keep my eyes on God, Holy Spirit empowers me to continue to stand to continue to hope and to trust in God’s love for me. He desire for me to do His will and see good things happen, especially the fulfillment of His promises.

Lord, You know I don’t like to suffer, but thank You that You use those times to grow me into the person You want me to be. Help me to grow in YOu as I face those times of resistance. Help me to not grow weary but to hold on to the hope I have in You.