This life is full of the difficult. Pain, stress, pressures, trials, tribulations, temptations, even persecutions, oppositions and rejection.
A few things are true in such times of trouble:
- God delivers the circumstance. He does so with purpose and for our good.
- Man’s required response is endurance or perseverance.
- God provides promises to the man who perseveres, giving him hope in the midst of the circumstance.
The Scripture is full of examples, responses, instruction and related promises. Two of them:
Romans 5:3-5:
(3) “And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance (4) and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; (5) and hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
James 1:2-4:
(2) “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials (3) because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. (4) Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
Perseverance or endurance is our role in the process. It means to “stay under” or to bear patiently. It implies a choice of remaining in or abandoning the God-purposed process in these two passages.
God’s purpose in perseverance is to draw us to dependence on Him and to sanctify us in the process. It requires faith, the faith that Jesus Christ will deliver us out or from the trouble.
1 Corinthians 10:13:
“No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it.”
If we abandon the process, we lose out on God’s process for us. But for those who persevere, the promises are great. A few of them:
James 1:12:
“Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”
2 Corinthians 4:17-18:
(17) “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. (18) So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
Others: Our faith would be “perfect, lacking in nothing” (James 1:4), “proven character, hope and love (Romans 5:4-5), reap a harvest (Galatians 6:9), “proof of your faith” (1 Peter 1:6-7).
The endurance phase of the process is one of courage, surrender and faith but waiting, submitting in obedience, seeking and seeing God for who He is. New insights are gained. A man then sees the hope that comes in the pursuit of Jesus Christ.
With the pressure of a trial, the man God wants is broken, without hope, desperate, humbled, and even suffering unjustly. He is at the end of his rope. He likely has experienced the futility of bailing out on the process and realizing false hopes. This is where God does His work.
1 Peter 5:9-10:
“But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. (10) And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.”
Keep on Keepin’ on.
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