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Topic: Endurance (03/22/04)
TITLE: Endurance is a Human Occurance By Linda Ryzenga 03/24/04 |
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Endurance must be experienced at one time or another in one's life. Some people are able to endure longer than others, depending on their situation, and I suppose, the amount of tenacity they possess.
American soldiers in Iraq must endure the pressure of suicide bombers, missiles, summer heat, and many other hardships. Separation from loved ones being the most difficult trial.
A caregiver for a terminally ill loved one must endure not only the fact that his or her loved one will soon die, but merely watching a person waste away is absolutely devastating. Usually the caregiver gets very little sleep, and must endure this situation for many months, sometimes much longer.
Experiencing divorce sometimes takes years of endurance. It isn't always easy to let go of your spouse, especially when one has been married for an abundant number of years.
A women in labor, about to deliver a baby must endure the difficult and wrenching pain of childbirth. Some women are in labor for 24 hours. This is truly long suffering.
Then there are elderly people in nursing homes who have completely given up, so to speak. They are oblivious to the joy of life. Their health is deteriorating and basically, they are merely waiting to die.
When we look in the Bible and see how someone like Paul, once he accepted Christ into his life, endured a long hard road of suffering. Many of our missionaries in various countries have very difficult struggles. Many lose their lives, which they are always quite aware that this is a possibility the moment they give their lives to Christ. Quite recently in Iraq, four missionaries lives were snuffed out by terrorists.
How do you deal with endurance? When I need to face it, do you know how I manage? Well, I usually go to the Lord in prayer, asking Him for strength to see me through a difficult situation. He always makes my load lighter, and therefore strengthens my endurance. He is my fortress and my stronghold. I couldn't do it without Him.
Jesus is certainly Master over all endurance. He suffered endless anguish not only on the cross, physically, but while praying in the Garden of Gethseman, the night before His arrest, He also suffered mental anguish. Our Lord gave His life that we might live more abundant and contributing lives. Lives that should be dedicated to Him. Let's thank Jesus each day, in prayer, for what He did for us on that cross. He definitely displayed the ultimate in endurance. Let us keep praising His name!