“Hangeth thou in there, O baby!”
Oh, yeah?
Are you in a place of misery? Are you at your wits’ end?
How can you endure? How can you “hang in there”? How can you stand firm?
First, pray
First, always first, look to the Lord and pray.
Second, ask whether you need to act.
It may be that the Lord wants you to do something to change the situation. If so, ask Him what to work on. (Legally! Righeously!)
Do what needs doing.
But do you need to endure?
It may be that you have to endure the situation.
We are expected to endure
No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)
… but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses … (2 Corinthians 6:4)
You have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. (Hebrews 10:36)
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews 12:1–3)
HOW TO ENDURE
STOP!
If it is possible to step away and get your head/heart straight, do so. A breather. A time not to be in the midst of the battle, but a time to get before the Lord. If it isn’t possible, try to get away mentally.
Stop thinking about yourself and your misery.
Stop that internal dialogue about how awful it is.
LOOK!
We may not have a choice about whether we have to endure.
But we do have a choice about how we will endure.
The key is to look to Him rather than your own misery; To set your mind on things of the Spirit, not things of the flesh. (Romans 8:5-8)
Fix your eyes upon Jesus. (Hebrews 12:1-3)
LISTEN!
Recall God’s promises:
He allowed this for a loving purpose.
He will bring good out of it, making your more into the image of Christ.
He is with you through this and for you in this.
Remind yourself:
You have been given everything you need for life and godliness. (2 Peter 1:3)
THEREFORE, you can get through this in a way that honors your Lord. I CAN
ACT!
Ask to see this trial from the perspective of eternity.
Resolve to endure–but put your hope on God, not yourself
Determine to think, say, and do what pleases the Lord.
Determine to hang in there. Make up your mind.
Determine to endure whatever He brings or allows, looking to Him for eventual redemption and reward.
REJOICE!
Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials. (James 1:2)
We also exult in our tribulations… (Romans 5:3)
——
You CAN endure with joy. I CAN endure with joy.
Yes! We CAN.
