Archive for July 13th, 2010

³More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, ⁴and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, ⁵and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. (Romans 5:3-5)

What does it really mean to endure?  First, let’s define endure.  We all know the general definition, but let’s find a more detailed specific definition.

According to Meriam-Webster and Heritage dictionary it comes from the root word endurance–to undergo a hard ship. To carry on through, despite hardships.

It has been said that “shoe leather” faith is like running a marathon race.  When everything in you is hurting in body, soul, and spirit, it keeps right on going, and going, and going.
 24Know ye not that those who run in a race all run, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain it. (I Corinthians 9:24.

Therefore, seeing we also are compassed about by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, (Hebrews 12:1-3)

Remember, how we deal with our sorrows is a choice.  We can chose to lay down and die and give up, or to get up and keep going.  It is all in our attitude.  It isn’t our problems that bring us down–it is how we deal with them.