Let’s start with a quote from Orson F. Whitney - “All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable, more worthy to be called the children of God.”
When I think of endurance, I typically envision activities like running or carrying heavy objects. At our radio station, we have a water dispenser, and part of our routine involves refilling those hefty 5-gallon water jugs. Honestly, I have to admit, I wouldn't have the physical endurance to carry them very far due to their awkwardness. But if you were to load a backpack with an equivalent weight of 5 gallons and put it on my back, I'm confident I could manage it with much more ease.
Sometimes, the difficulty in persisting isn't solely about the weight of the problem; it's about how we handle it.
In Matthew 11:28, Jesus invites, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”
Jesus offers to assist us, to help carry our burdens so that we can endure.
Have you ever encountered someone in your household who insists on carrying all 50 bags of groceries inside at once? We certainly have a few of those in our house. While the rest of us are ready to lend a hand, they're determined to manage it solo, struggling and repeatedly asking, “Open the door, open the door, open the door.”
I often wonder, why? We're right here, ready to help. You don't have to do it alone.
Similarly, in Galatians 6:2, it's advised, “Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.”
We're not meant to face everything on our own. God is there to lend support, but we also have others alongside us to navigate through struggles.
Seek guidance from the Lord to discern those who can assist you.
One thing remains certain: God's love and Word endure forever.
In moments when the weight of the world feels overwhelming, when it seems impossible to take another step, remember, God is beside you, empowering you to endure whatever challenges come your way.
Hebrews 10:36 emphasizes, “Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that He has promised.”
With God at the center of our endurance, He will lead us through.
What we truly need is faith — faith in God's promises, faith that His will is for us to persevere, faith in His boundless love for us. He invites us to reach out and allow Him to guide us through every trial. With unwavering faith in the Lord, we can and will endure all things.