It’s Friday…Endure It Well

Life as a follower of Jesus Christ isn’t easy. Actually, life isn’t easy for anyone. But if we thought that giving our life to The Lord was going to make for smooth sailing, we were wrong. We’ve encountered rough waters, and land is not in sight. We’re in this for the long haul.

That’s hard to swallow for people who know we came from the garden of Eden and are headed for the City of God. We live in the in-between time, and while we see the beauty of the past and the glory of the future, we don’t see it clearly enough to keep us always encouraged. Sometimes we grow faint, and sometimes we just want to give up. Life is hard, and the reality of God’s promises sometimes seems very distant. We struggle to keep going. Or at least keep going faithfully.

“Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 2:1)

So, Paul reminds his protégé that there is grace to keep going. He never tells Timothy that grace will make things easy, and oh, how we wish he did. But he doesn’t. Grace sustains but it does not simplify. It does tell us to relax, it gives us strength. It urges endurance more often than it gives us miraculous escape. But when it’s all we have, it’s more than enough.

We all need grace to keep going. We all know that. We may even be acutely aware of that fact today. Whether we feel like we’re walking on air – a wonderful rarity for most people – or exhausted climbing up “Everest,” we know deep down that what Paul writes to Timothy is vital for us as well. The life that God has called us to requires extraordinary endurance, and only grace can give it.

So, resist the urge to give up. Sadly, many followers of Jesus don’t do that, in fact, many run up the white flag and walk away these days, as least internally if not externally. That’s always a danger, especially when life is tough. If that’s your temptation today, dwell on the words of Paul to Timothy and to you in the hours and days ahead. Memorize it if you can. Let its truth sink down into your heart. Yes, the walk of faith is a hard and narrow road – Endure It Well. And never forget that in your weakness, God’s grace will make you strong, always.

Have a power-filled weekend. Make it better by worshiping The Lord with those who know when they are weak God’s grace is stronger still, and His grace is more than enough to supply all of their needs.

All For Jesus – Nothing More, Nothing Less, Nothing Else.

“He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, The King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see, to Him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.” (1 Timothy 6:15b-16)