Endurance is the ability to withstand hardship or adversity. God gives us the ability to endure in our faith. God has made us resilient and given us the victory.
The formal definition of endurance can be found below:
Endurance- the ability to withstand hardship or adversity (Webster Dictionary); the ability or strength to continue or last, especially despite fatigue, stress, or other adverse conditions; stamina: (Dictionary.com)
Our definition of faith is a firm persuasion based upon knowledge. This knowledge comes from the Word of God.
Hebrews 10:22-23 NKJV
let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
Hebrews 10:35-36 AMPC
Do not, therefore, fling away your fearless confidence, for it carries a great and glorious compensation of reward. 36 For you have need of steadfast patience and endurance, so that you may perform and fully accomplish the will of God, and thus receive and carry away [and enjoy to the full] what is promised.
We must hold onto our confident expectation. We must also add endurance to our faith promise. We must realize that we have a real enemy. This enemy is always against us. His mission is to steal from us, attempt to kill us and destroy us (John 10:10).
Endurance is synonymous with resiliency
Resiliency is the power or ability to return to the original form, position, etc., after being bent, compressed, or stretched; elasticity (Dictionary.com).
Resiliency is the capacity to recover from difficulties; toughness (Oxford dictionary). It also means to mentally recover from crisis.
We have Christ’s capacity for resilience on the inside (Mark 11:22-25). This is because we have the Holy Spirit residing on the inside of us. Another term we can use is “grit”. Grit is courage; strength of character (perseverance).
Not in Your Own Strength
We must realize that we are not going to be able to endure in our own strength. We have to yield to God’s grace. We must depend on God.
We must have a “none of these things move me” & “set your face like flint” attitude!
Acts 20:18-24
18 And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, 19 Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews: 20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house, 21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. 22 And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: 23 Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. 24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
Isaiah 50:7 (NLT) Because the Sovereign LORD helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore, I have set my face like a stone, determined to do his will. And I know that I will not be put to shame.
We must stay the course of what God has told us to do. You do not know who is on the other side of your obedience. God has set Kairos moments in our life. Karios is God’s opportune timing. There is a timing of God where certain blessings are released. We must be in sync with His movement and timing. This will cause us to get God’s results.
Get On the Victory Side
We must get on the victory- side. We have to change our perspective when faced with difficulties. While we are enduring we must maintain a position of victory. This is the position of faith. Victory can be seen in the following ways:
Victory is seen by….
· How you speak
· How you praise
· How you pray
· How you act
Let’s decide to live on the victory side. Let’s speak victory, praise in victory, pray in victory, and have corresponding actions of victory!