How to Endure
“You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.” – 2 Timothy 2:3-4 (NKJV)
Paul was writing to Timothy in what we call the "Pastoral Epistles" (1-2 Timothy and Titus). Timothy had a big job for God, and you do as well. Somewhere along the line, Paul realized Timothy would struggle with some harsh realities—just as we all do. He alerted Timothy to something we would often rather avoid: endurance.
Endurance is a tough word because it requires dedication—dedication to the truth as opposed to our circumstances and feelings. The hurts we face, we must endure. The rejection we face from family and friends, we must endure. The losses we have taken in life, we must endure. Even the family we want but don’t have at the moment, we must endure. It’s a process, and it doesn’t come easy, but there is a better way than cussing and fussing at God. God has given us strategies to overcome the enemy.
Ephesians 6:13 says, “Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”
Sometimes a day hits you and it feels almost unbearable; sometimes it’s a moment-to-moment struggle. Many people overcoming addictions by grace still face temptations to fall back into the traps God rescued them from. Yet, regardless of the duration, we are asked by God to stand firm. It doesn’t matter what is going on or what you are tempted by, your orders as a soldier are to: “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”(Ephesians 6:11)
But what is our mindset? What does God really require of us in these moments?
1) Our Perspective Must Change
It is hard to do, but in the moment of enduring emotional, spiritual, or physical pain, we must alter our perception and gaze. We have to look at God and not ourselves. To stop the downward spiral of self-focus during tough times, we must look up and walk forward with Christ. God can bring you through and out at the right time. Look back over your shoulder—hasn’t God done some incredible things that you once thought were impossible?
2) Develop Optimism
While everything may look terrible, you must make a deliberate choice to believe Romans 8:28: “All things work together for good to those who love God.” If you have chosen to love God and obey Jesus, it doesn’t matter what people do or say, or how things look—it will work out for your good. People and circumstances may have a lot to say, but as a Christian, they do not have the last word in your life. Only God does. Trust Him and learn to "look on the bright side." If you don’t see one, count your blessings. Change your attitude by choosing gratitude even in the midst of pain.
3) Make Prayer a Choice
When things get tough, we are often tempted to walk away from God rather than fall back on Him. Satan wants that; it is his goal. Have you wandered away? Maybe it’s time to turn back. When things go wrong, we pray, but we sometimes don’t "get down" into prayer. We simplify it. We don't tell God how we really feel. We minimize our feelings in prayer, yet we give those feelings away freely to friends, family, and even artificial intelligence.
The truth is, God wants to hear it before anyone else. Sometimes we vent to the very person who ends up spreading our business. Check out Ecclesiastes 10:20: “Don't criticize the king, even silently, and don't criticize the rich, even in the privacy of your bedroom. A bird might carry the message and tell them what you said.” Make the choice to take your true feelings to God. You will be able to stand firm, stand through, and stand out.
A Prayer for StrengthFather God, in the name of Jesus Christ, I pray for renewed dedication and strength. I pray that I dedicate more of my time by choice to You—for prayer, giving, service, and for believing Your Word through action. Help me, Lord, in tough times to endure hardness, because I am chosen by You and all things are working for my good. Amen.