At the end of July, the Summer Olympic Games will begin in Paris. The road to Olympic gold is one that requires training, self-discipline, and sacrifices. These athletes “do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown” (1 Corinthians 9:25). May we run our spiritual race with great endurance and keep focused on the crown that awaits us!
When I was younger, I wanted to run a marathon. A marathon is a race that is over 26 miles or about 42 kilometers long. Those who run these races need endurance. In the Boston Marathon, there is a place called “heartbreak hill.” It is close to the end of the race and is a test of the runners, whether they will give up or keep on. I marveled at the endurance of those who can run a marathon. Recently, I came upon the verse in 2 Corinthians 6 where Paul writes: “Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance” (2 Corinthians 6:4, NIV).
As I thought and prayed about these words, I was reminded that great patience and endurance is needed in the lives of many Christians. I think of a man who went blind when he was about forty years old. When I met him, he had been blind for about ten years, but he was grateful for God’s help in his life. He took what was given to him in life, and he is still serving God. This man, this follower of Jesus, models “great endurance.” I met a lady many years ago who had polio. She had been in an iron lung for years. Before her sickness, she was married and had two girls. Now, in her sickness, she was all alone. This Christian lady did not complain. She had come to terms with her situation in life, and even after thirty-five years in her condition, she walked with the Lord. I have met many other Christians with such exemplary patience, and I am encouraged by their examples.
What I have realized is that “great endurance” is something we all may require in our walk with the Lord. Life may not go as we wish it would. There are crosses to bear, sicknesses and long-term problems that we must deal with. This may require great patience and endurance. When things come up, we have choices to make. We can blame God and become angry at Him and walk away from Him. We can push God out of our lives and attempt to live on without Him. We can also escape into alcohol or drugs and live life that way. We can even quit life and decide that life is not worth living and end our life.
Or we can decide to walk with God and go to Him as our source of strength and develop “great endurance.” The prophet Isaiah tells us: “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak” (Isaiah 40:29, NIV). This power only comes from our heavenly Father, who has promised to give us exactly what we need.
There may come times in our lives when we need a lot of patience and endurance. It is therefore important that we practice and develop these in our daily challenges, for example, when we are struck by a short-term illness or have to deal with a difficult situation. Everything can contribute to developing our stamina.
After observing and talking to those who have great endurance, I think there are lessons we can learn from them:
1) Take one day at a time. This is one comment that I have heard from these amazing people. Do not look too far into the future but take one day at a time.
2) Ask for strength from God on a regular, daily basis. Being in a tough place requires much strength from God as there are many attacks from Satan, and the road to heaven can also be very steep.
3) Never consider giving up. As I have spoken with these people, they know that the end will come. Heaven is waiting for them, but they do not know how long the suffering will be. It is therefore important to focus on finishing and to never give up.
How are you doing? Are you still following Jesus Christ? Have you faced tough issues in life where “great endurance” is needed? There are things that come our way that we would never have thought of or ever asked for. Yet we need to deal with them. In the Bible, we are given promises for enough grace and strength for each day. I am very grateful for the example of those who have “great endurance.” As I observe them, as I stand at their bedside, or as I talk with them, I thank God for them. It is these people who patiently endure in their tribulations and who encourage us to follow Jesus Christ.
As we observe them, let’s not forget to pray for them. They have been put into a special place to model “great endurance.” They need our prayers, they need our support, and they also need our visits and understanding. Please remember that in the future, you or I may also be called to be a person of “great endurance.”
Sieg Schuler, Calgary (CA)
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