So many of us need endurance to face the road ahead in this ever-changing world, and the uncertainty of what lies ahead. Just as Paul prayed for the Colossians in Chapter one, verse 11, this prayer is for us today, “. . .We also pray that you will be strengthened with all His glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need…” You have probably heard the common saying, “pull yourself up by your bootstraps.” This phrase means to improve your situation by your own efforts—to succeed or elevate yourself without any outside help. At the mention of this gesture, it seems courageous to dig down deep within yourself for needed strength—that is, until your strength isn’t enough, and the power to withstand something challenging finds you flat on your face.
You need more than your own effort to bounce back from heartbreak, stressful situations, or exhaustion.
You need something beyond you!
You need His glorious power working in you. It’s only then that you will be ready for anything because it’s the strength of the One who lives in you that allows you to do all things through Him who strengthens you (see Philippians 4:13).
No matter where you find yourself today, something has caused fatigue to grip you in one way or another. Some days are more intense than others, but no matter where you find yourself swinging on the pendulum, you crave a stamina that will carry you through.
Hebrews 12:1-2 says, “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. . .”
To run with endurance, you must first lay aside every burden such as fear, anxiety, or a hurt-filled past—anything that keeps you from doing what God wants you to do. Secondly, you must lay aside the sins that entangle you—sin of unbelief, lack of obedience, or anything that continues to hurt God. He wants you to run your race lean and mean with His endurance fixing your eyes on Jesus.
Maybe you are sitting here thinking, I have done all this, but I still need endurance to run the race set before me. Hebrews 12:2 continues, “…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.” Yes, not all fatigue is from our sin—some fatigue is the result of going where God says go and choosing to remain until God’s purpose is fulfilled.
Just as Jesus needed endurance to accomplish His purpose on Earth with the cross, you may need His endurance to obey God’s purpose in your life. He’s providing that same endurance for you to bravely bear what’s in front of you with His power and strength, not your own.
Apart from Him, you can do nothing (John 15:5).
Journeying with Him,
Jessie