We've all heard that old saying "Patience is a virtue." If there has even been a time when we can benefit from having patience, steadiness, steadfastness, and endurance, it's now. No matter what we go through in these end times, God is still who He says He is, and He wants us to hold on.. to Him! The ability to endure without going under is vitally important, so let's dig into this.
WHAT we need is the ability to endure whatever we are facing. Especially when we feel like we're holding on by a thread.
HOW we need to endure it is with patience, confidence and trust, not in anger, rage, frustration, agitation, or fear.
I grew up in a generation before computers, internet, cell phones or smart phones. The World Book encyclopedia and dictionary were integral components of my education. If you asked an adult a question about a word, or a place, the answer was always the same: Look It Up! To this day, I am an avid, life-long learner, and always looking things up.
Here are a few definitions from dictionaries:
Endure: "to remain firm under suffering or misfortune without yielding, though it is difficult."
Endurance: The ability to withstand hardship or adversity, especially the ability to sustain a prolonged stressful effort or activity, (a marathon runner's endurance), or the act or an instance of enduring or suffering endurance of many hardships.
The power of enduring an unpleasant, or difficult process or situation without giving way.
Synonyms include "bearing up, having stamina or staying power, the ability to persevere, to have tenacity, determination, ability to stick with it, or grit.
How are we going to have endurance like this during suffering, hardships, adversity, or prolonged stress, extended illnesses, a world that seems to be unravelling before our eyes, and more? The Lord knows that our human endurance, our human patience in and of ourselves will run out, and will not be enough to get us through difficult times. If you've ever wondered HOW God's strength and power get from heaven down here to earth into our lives, it is simply through the Holy Spirit who lives inside everyone who believes in Jesus. He is the Spirit of the Father. Our heavenly Father doesn't just leave it up to us to be able to produce or muster up this patient endurance. He provides it to us through the Holy Spirit. "The fruit of the Holy Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control..." Galatians 5:22. Patience is the ability to endure something patiently. The Holy Spirit empowers us with the ability to remain steady even during times of crisis, times of suffering. Consider our Lord Jesus during His earthly ministry as a man. While although still the Son of God, Jesus relied entirely upon the Holy Spirit for everything wonderful thing He did - the miracles, the creative power, the wisdom, revelation and prophecies flowing through Him from the Holy Spirit. He also relied entirely on the Holy Spirit to ENDURE all the difficult things - being mocked, ridiculed, rejected, excluded, slander, insults, hatred and hostility, being misunderstood, be falsely accused, being ostracized, driven out of places, and ultimately enduring being spit on, crowned with thorns, beaten, slapped, tortured, and nailed to a cross.
If our Lord Jesus needed the enduring power of the Holy Spirit in His earthly life over two thousand years ago, HOW MUCH MORE DO WE NEED THIS ENDURING POWER TODAY? Jesus foretold life in the end times. He described two groups of people. Those who love grew cold, and those who endured and hung onto their faith unto the end.
The first step to having the ability to hold on, to having this inner strength and power to endure life, or to receive anything else that comes from the Lord for that matter, is to have a personal relationship with Jesus, by accepting Him as your savior. A relationship with Jesus is built very similarly to how you build a relationship with anyone. You are with them, around them, you learn things about them, you talk to them, etc. Once we come into agreement that we are born in sin and have need of a Savior and turn to Him, we simply begin to pray daily, to listen, to talk, to pour our hearts out, to read the bible to learn more, to grow...An INNER connection, not merely outward. Jesus comes to take up residence in our hearts, through His Holy Spirit. And when the Holy Spirit comes to live inside, He brings gifts. Which include patience to enable us to hold on.
It's true that we are living in dangerous times. We may not understand everything going on around us, and the seeming delays to our prayers for life to return to normal. We are pressed beyond what it feels like we can endure with the problems, the shootings, the senseless murders, and many other sufferings. Yet we can be assured that the Holy Spirit will always provide us with an endless supply of patience which will give us strength to bear up under pressure, and to hold on. Patience is KEY to being equipped. Many people don't hold on long enough. Instead when the heat gets too high they throw in the towel when their answer was so close. We have to stand in faith, and take God at His word. This divine strength that gives us GREAT ability to endure can also allow us to remain thankful and hopeful in the midst of heavy loads because we know that He is a good, good Father who only gives good gifts, and we know that He can make all things work together for good for those who love Him, and who are called according to His purpose.
Let's recap:
Taking Jesus as your Lord and Savior is the key to Salvation.
Salvation is the key to becoming a child of God.
Becoming a child of God is key to receiving the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is the key to having patience, for great endurance.
Receiving the ability to press thru, stay the course, endure, and not give up is the key to life on earth in these end times.
If I am going to give you any hope of being able to hold on, it is only by ensuring that you stay connected to the SOURCE of all hope and endurance. God see's, He hears, and He knows. He is aware of what you are going through. He has promised to never leave you or forsake you (abandon you). Jesus is enduring with us. If you have entrusted your life to Him, He will never quit enduring on your behalf. He's in the fire with you. And He will be with us until the very end. Just that one promise alone gives hope to hang in there and not give up.
Let me pray for you. Lord, right now by faith, I ask for your endless, matchless, strength and patience for ___your name____ to be able to hold on, to wait on you, and to be able to endure what they are dealing with. By faith, I believe that it is theirs and that they receive it from you right now. In Jesus name. Amen." You are never alone. And you are never left without the ability, the source to plug into to have the power to hold on. His mercies are new every morning.