How Can You Develop Endurance?

By Mark Skalberg & DiAnna Steele

Previously, we considered inevitability of waiting, challenges of waiting patiently and the necessity of endurance in waiting.

Supermarkets and department stores don’t exactly stock their shelves with endurance.  A Google search of “endurance for purchase” might leave you scratching your head.  And like money, endurance is valuable but it doesn’t grow on trees.  So where do we go to find endurance? 

Our previous blog noted endurance modeled by historical figure.  They certainly inspire us.  But how can we develop endurance in us?

First, recognize God’s history of patience.Throughout history God demonstrated remarkable patience with His children beginning with Adam & Eve, continuing to Israel.  His heart ached over Israel’s repeated straying, seeking other gods and lesser lovers. His heart still aches today over us as we similarly disobey. 

Do you picture God, perched on his throne, disgusted with your behavior, preparing to “smite you”…that’s Hebrew for smack you down…at any moment?  Perhaps this reminder from Psalms will encourage you that patience God extended in Biblical times is as real for us as it was in those days.

“But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.”  Psalm 86:15

How utterly patient He has been with His children, even as we daily test His patience.  Our endurance mounts as we consider the fuse length God has demonstrated with us.  

Second, recognize your need to grow in patience.  We may say we want to become more like Christ, but growing in patience tests that assertion.  What would it take for us to possess even a hint of patience God demonstrates?

Wouldn’t it be nice if when we humbly pray asking God for patience, He would split the sky, serving up heaps on a silver platter?  We could help ourselves to as much or as little as the situation demands.

But patience is not passive.

Like perfecting a golf swing, fine tuning a piano masterpiece or honing computer skills, patience only grows when practiced.  We practice patience not when all of life progresses perfectly but when we are pelted with problems. 

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people…clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.” Colossians 3:12-13

As followers of Christ, we practice patience and fortify endurance by willingly embracing opportunities for God to stretch us as we bear with other imperfect people and forgive grievances. 

Finally, depend fully on God.

Singles often possess a boot strap mentality, thinking we must endure alone.  But self-reliance is the enemy of endurance.  In our own strength we inevitably crash and burn. 

Ask God for His help, then “Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him.” Psalm 37:7

We must be willing to surrender our will to God’s divine plan and wait for His movement on our behalf. 

Surrender seems illogical.  Giving up is the way to build endurance? How can that be? 

Scripture reassures, “No eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.” Isaiah 64:4

Jesus broke through the wall on the night of his betrayal when the disciples could not stay up with Him in Gethsemane. Hell was saying quit, just quit. In moments of excruciating agony Jesus could have resisted His circumstances, could have complained how unjust and unfair God’s plan, could have demanded rescue.  Instead, he boldly surrendered, “Father, not my will be done, but yours’.”

When our patience bankrupts, endurance wanes and we find ourselves ready to throw in the towel, we can take heart, knowing Christ endured excruciating circumstances.  We can trust God to help us break through our walls just as He did in the Garden with Jesus.  As we depend on God and surrender to Him, endurance intensifies.

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him 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 sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.  Hebrews 12:2-3

Jesus crashed through the wall because he was thinking of YOU on the way to the cross, to give His life for YOU! May God help us to endure for His sake.

As we seek to develop endurance let us consider God’s patience for us, recognize and embrace our own need to grown in patience and most importantly, depend fully on the One who strengthens us to Godly endurance.

 ‘Supplement your faith…with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness.’ 2Peter 1:5-6
Your comments are welcome below. Stay tuned and tell your freinds about for our upcoming blog series Relationships: Connecting the Dots.