Spiritual Endurance

If you’ve ever been running, there is often a point that you will get to where you feel like you want to give up. Then you have a choice to make: either relieve your pain for a minute or so by stopping to walk, or push through the discomfort and keep going. 

I’ve done both before, and often I will find that when I do push through and keep going, I actually get over a hump and am able to keep running for longer. It’s often when I stop and walk that I become more aware of the pain and then it’s harder to get going again!

I feel that in this spiritual season, it’s time to keep going. It’s a time to learn about endurance. It’s a time to hold fast to our faith and not waiver. It’s a time to accept the stretch that we feel and persevere.

Now, I’m not talking about pushing to the place of burnout, but I’m talking about spiritual endurance and keeping the faith.

‘Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.’ (Hebrews 12:1-3)

So, we can acknowledge that things might be difficult or tedious or stretching, but this is the time when we can exercise endurance and perseverance, holding onto our faith and our hope. 

Of course, we also need to remember that we are not alone, but we have the Holy Spirit to help us! Let’s lean on him for our strength.