Endurance: Finding the Grace to Stand
(NIV)
When I think of endurance I generally envision sporting events such as the Tour de France, a marathon, or a mountain climb―events that challenge a person’s inner being as well as their athletic ability. Completion of the event due to factors such as length of time or difficulty of a course combined with adverse weather conditions can impact the most physically fit person, so mental toughness often plays an important aspect as well. I have heard stories of people who survived being buried alive or lost on a mountain or in the wilderness, holding on to hope when their supplies or rations were gone―this is endurance gathering the inner strength to survive; waiting for the voice that says help has arrived. Endurance is a test of mental, spiritual, and physical abilities that allow people to succeed in spite of obstacles. It is also defined as: the ability or strength to continue, despite fatigue, stress, or other adverse conditions.1
The April 2014 Boston Marathon participants and their family members were challenged by more than wind conditions or temperature. In 2013, the event was impacted by two bombs placed along the route that killed or maimed several runners and spectators. Those who returned to the race this year had to find the strength to face the painful memories of losing loved ones or fellow competitors, but they were determined not to allow fear to define their lives. Endurance here is called “Boston Strong” summoning the courage to continue to fight and live in the moment instead of giving into fear brought on by past horror.
Endurance allows us to push our limits beyond our seeming capabilities: believers may call that faith. In the New Testament our greatest example of endurance is Jesus. When Jesus set out on his public ministry, he was aware of the obstacles that he would face and in his divinity they would not be a problem, but in his humanity he was pushed to the limit. When he was taken into the wilderness by the Spirit to be tempted by the Devil after 40 days and nights of fasting (Matt. 4:1-11), Jesus’ endurance was tested but he was prepared and resisted the temptations laid before him.
On the cross, Jesus physically and mentally endured the most agonizing death the Romans could devise. His task was to endure to the point of death. The seven last sayings on the cross were those of an individual who had counted the cost and fought with inner reserve to stay the course. Digging deep within to surpass emotional and physical obstacles is something we all face, some better than others. As a cancer survivor, I faced my mortality at the age of 30. When life should have been beginning for me, I was concerned if I would live to see my children grow to be adults. I had taken for granted that I was going to live to a nice old age, but life happened and tested the faith I said I had. This was my time to prove it.
I had never been sick before, nor had people in my life gone through this kind of illness to assure me that everything would be alright. Could I survive? Even my pastor was unable to offer the encouragement that I thought I needed. I learned that I needed more than a prayer life―I needed a greater relationship with God.
I have spent the last 10 years of my career working as an Employee Assistance Counselor for the state of New York assisting many employees dealing with problems of addiction, depression, and grief. In each instance the endurance of those individuals was tested to overcome very painful issues of life without succumbing to drugs, alcohol, or suicide. Professional resources were found for the individuals who realized that they needed assistance in resisting the urge to self medicate or self-destruct. No one ever said that endurance was a one-person operation. Athletes have coaches to bring out the champion in them. Children have their parents, and many times their teachers, to guide them and provide emotional support. Wise individuals find mentors to give advice and encouragement through difficult challenges.
Grace can be defined as God’s unmerited favor. We cannot work for grace, pay for grace, or acquire grace by any other means; we learn that grace finds us when we need it the most. At the time when it seems best to give up or when others give up on us, grace arrives. Through God’s abundant grace we understand that we will still have the challenges of daily life and sometimes our best efforts seem to be events that we would rather forget, but we endure because of grace. The Apostle Paul recognized that God’s grace carried him farther than his intellect or standing could ever take him and that was how he survived stoning in Lystra where he was thought to be dead, the jailing and the beating he and Silas suffered in Philippi and continued preaching the crucified and resurrected Christ. Paul even returned to Lystra for a second time after being attacked there. Paul’s testament of endurance was “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil 4:13).
Endurance brings about transformation. Surviving adversity and difficulties in life brings about change in us. Taking the near misses and narrow escapes, and losses, combined with the triumphs and victories should be cause for reflection and change. Going through the storms of life and in these times the literal storms such as hurricanes and tornadoes should help build the character in us that can be used to help others. There have been times in my life where I wondered why me? Why did I have to go through that Lord? Certainly you could have found someone else more deserving? But as I continued my journey I found that sometimes I would have to be transparent and share my experience with someone who thought they were the only one with a difficult experience.
Those moments of sharing brought me away from my selfish and self-centered ways and taught me that I was here in the world to help someone else. How could I encourage someone to continue to fight to overcome obstacles in their life while embracing transformation if I had not been transformed? The butterfly has to endure the cocoon in its transitional stage as a caterpillar and fight without outside assistance to be free from the cocoon in order to fulfill its destiny to be transformed into one of nature’s most beautiful creations. So it is for believers to endure the growing pains associated with walking into our destiny.
“There must be hills and mountains to climb, roads that are rough and trouble in mind, if God gave us everything we need then we wouldn’t have need to pray.”2 Those are lyrics in the song If God Gave us Everything. I believe that God allows us to face the hills and the mountains so we may build our endurance. Like the marathon or long distance runner the ability to achieve the distance necessary to finish the race comes from running farther than required when training. Boxers run many miles while training to increase their stamina for the possibility of going the maximum rounds in a fight. God never promised anyone a smooth and easy life, but by learning through our experiences we are able to have a more satisfying and fulfilled life in Christ. Paul instructed Timothy to be strengthened by the grace in Christ, to endure hardness as good soldier in Christ, because a good soldier wishes to please his commanding officer which often requires adjustments (2 Tim 2:1-5). Our growth in God depends on continually maturing through our experiences and understanding that by grace we can find the endurance to overcome our challenges and stand victorious.
Notes
2. If God Gave us Everything, Isaac Douglas, Youtube.com. Accessed May 30, 2014.
