Sometimes it feels like my life is nothing more than enduring one test after another. One day it’s family. The next finances. Then something about an uncertain future. And that’s just three days! Sounds familiar, right?
Of course, but I’ve learned that enduring is not something to avoid. Life is all about ENDURANCE! This is not heaven. It’s earth and our ability to endure will be tested.
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” James 1:2-3
Just this week I had a significant financial setback and betrayal by a very close friend. I was, and still am, devastated. But God is directing me right now to the Apostle Paul’s reminder:
“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:37-38
Yes, life’s painful circumstances like the one I just described can and often do rock our natural life. But they CANNOT come between the love of God and his child in the spiritual realm. I know it’s counter intuitive, but the mature believer is joyful because we are dealing with what appear to be insurmountable forces. Our abundant joy is not built on circumstances and trouble. It is grounded on the love of God that NOTHING can change.
The good news in all of this is that God gives us a way to endure. I call it the 3-Prong Endurance Promise. Take a look below.
ONE: ASSURANCE
God promises us perseverance, and he assures us we will prevail. We can know with absolute certainty that we are on the right path and that God will protect us all the way—no matter what the circumstances.
“The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” Psalm 121:7-8
This promise does not mean life will be “suffering free.” God’s Word assures us we will suffer. It means we have God’s assurance that we’ll prevail.
TWO: ACCEPTANCE
We need to accept that God has a higher purpose for the adversity we experience in our lives. The Bible is clear that not only may the righteous suffer, but some of the righteous suffer precisely because of their righteousness. In fact, the apostle Paul writes “everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Tim. 3:12).
God will not let us suffer more than we can bear, for “no temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).
THREE: ACCESS
Embracing God’s protection promise gives us access to supernatural endurance, which helps us weather the tumultuous events in life as we stay on God’s road.
“The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” Psalm 121:7-8
Feeling that kind of power and protection gives us the strength to move against the obstructions standing in our path. Following God’s Endurance Promise and doing these three things means we will be able to: 1) Persevere even when the pressure is extreme; 2) Win the day-to-day battles; and 3) Withstand life’s toughest challenges.
There you are…God’s Endurance Promise.
