Building Endurance in Our Faith

Times of endurance teach us afresh how to steward the talents he puts into our hands, however many or few they may be (Matt 25:15-30). It’s like the widow’s mite, in Luke 21. By dropping her small copper coins into the temple’s treasury, she gave more than the rich, who gave out of their abundance.

An offering like the widow’s, however small it may seem, points to the power faith in the upside-down nature of God’s Kingdom. He’s heralding in a world that is built by faith, ordered in such a way as to result in our knowing him better through the way we see him at work, and leading to greater and greater worship.

In Matthew 11:29-30 Jesus says, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Eugene Peterson’s version from The Message says, “Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me — watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

Christ’s invitation to learn from him, to see how he moves through the world, lets us in on an important component to running — and finishing — this race. We need to shed the extra weight – everything, as Hebrews 12:1 says, “that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles,” in order to run, to move persistently and steadily forward with perseverance.

Are you tired of tying yourself up in knots? Do you feel entangled, pulled down by the image or story or idea of a life you’re trying to hold together on your own?

Consider whether you need to bring to Christ’s feet anything that keeps steering you back into dead ends and self-service, or desires that may not be bad, but simply aren’t the prize God has marked out for you.

God is shaping you to be a witness to his grace — not your great deeds. And while most Christians would agree with this, so many of us still struggle to untangle our true identities from our works.

Like the elder brother in the prodigal’s tale, we work hard, thinking we’re earning great rewards, thinking our labor will accomplish what it takes for our Father to notice us. But we do not recognize that our reward is right in front of us, not having the eyes to see it.

Seasons that call for endurance, for persevering through disappointments, closed doors, suffering, or resistance calls us to question what we are truly laboring for, and in response to strip away anything that has been pulling us away from living more aligned with our confession that Jesus is Lord of our lives, and we can do nothing without him.

Like yeast working itself throughout the dough, preparing it to rise, the new life of the Kingdom is working itself out in each one of us who clings to Christ.

Photo credit: ©Getty Images/mixetto

Sarah E Martin is a sister, aunt, daughter, and sometimes a globe trotter. She has a background in English literature, and a devotion to good tea. When she’s not writing or studying, she is attempting to learn the names of her backyard birds, or planning long, unhurried walks in her favorite places. She believes that Jesus is the answer to bringing all our stories together, and is the one who satisfies our ache for home.